Former Longford & Leinster GAA Chairperson Martin Skelly selected on Fine Gael’s team in Ballymahon MD
Former Longford & Leinster GAA Chairperson and 2017 GAA Presidential candidate, Newtowncashel’s Martin Skelly has been selected on Fine Gael’s team of candidates to contest the 2024 local elections in the Ballymahon Municipal District.
The window of opportunity opened for Mr Skelly to enter the political arena following the decision of Lanesboro based Cllr Ger Farrell’s to not put his name in the ring on this occasion.
The Farrell family is synonymous with politics for several decades with Ger, being the third generation of his family serving in the Council Chamber. He was previously Leas-Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council.
Cllr Farrell’s sister, Lorraine and Ballymahon’s Grainne Moffitt, along with Mr Skelly were the three candidates put before last week’s selection convention in the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule and it was the long-time GAA administrator who triumphed and gained the nomination to join outgoing councillors, County Council Cathaoirleach Colm Murray and Paul Ross, on the party ticket for 2024.
Cllr Murray was co-opted onto Longford County Council in 2013 following the death of the late Paddy Belton and he was successful in retaining his seat in the local elections of 2014 and 2016.
Cllr Ross was part of Longford’s O’Byrne Cup winning team of 2000 and he was elected to the local authority in 2019 and previously served as County Council Cathaoirleach.