Fianna Fáil opt for two sitting Longford / Westmeath TD’s to contest general election

Fianna Fáil last week finalised their Longford / Westmeath constituency selection process for the forthcoming general election.

Outgoing TD’s Joe Flaherty and Robert Troy will be the party’s candidates.

The party opted to have a two party candidate strategy, despite some speculation to the contrary.

At last week’s Longford selection convention in the Longford Arms Hotel, Longford MD councillor Martin Monaghan, having been nominated, decided to withdraw, clearing the way for Deputy Flaherty to contest his second general election.

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Previously, at the Westmeath selection convention, Athlone based Cllr Aengus O’Rourke (son of former minister Mary O’Rourke) also withdrew, leaving Deputy Troy with a clear run.

The FF strategy means that, in common with Fine Gael, they will not be running a candidate in the Athlone area, which has no sitting TD.

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Following his very strong showing in the local elections in Athlone, former junior Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is tipped to try to reclaim the seat that he lost in the 2020 election.

Speaking to the Leader, sitting Longford Deputy Joe Flaherty stated that, “it is good to get the ratification and support of my peers. We hope to build on the good work done by Fianna Fáil.”

When asked when the election might take place, Deputy Flaherty would only say that, “the election will be held between the period of October and February.”

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