Ballina-based councillor follows brother by joining Fine Gael

RECENTLY co-opted county councillor Marie-Thérèse Duffy has followed her brother, Senator Mark Duffy, by joining Fine Gael.

The Ballina-based representative was co-opted into the local authority as an Independent in place of her brother, who was elected to Seanad Éireann in January.

Senator Duffy served as an Independent councillor for five years before joining Fine Gael to run on their four-candidate general election ticket. He failed to win a Dáil seat in November’s general election but was elected to the upper house by the Labour vocational panel.

His sister, Maire-Thérèse, who works as a primary school teacher, replaced him in Áras an Contae last month.

Her joining Fine Gael brings their number of county councillors in Mayo back up to eleven, making them the largest political grouping in the council chamber. Fine Gael are currently in coalition with Fianna Fáil on Mayo County Council, with Fine Gael’s Cllr John O’Hara acting as Cathaoirleach.

Her move also gives the party half the seats on the six-seat Ballina Municipal District Council.

Speaking after joining Fine Gael, Cllr Duffy said: “With the backing of a government party, I will have the opportunity to represent and deliver for our constituents at both local and national levels.
“Many major decisions that affect our lives here in Mayo are made centrally in Dublin. I will be working tirelessly to secure increased investment for the betterment of our local community in North Mayo. I look forward to driving on vital projects with the support of Fine Gael colleagues in Government.”

Cllr Duffy is also an elected member of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, a non-decision-making body comprised of elected representatives from across the north and west of Ireland.

She said she was committed to accelerating regional development and investment in Mayo and working to deliver on housing, transport, healthcare, traffic congestion and road safety for her constituents.

“As a proud Mayo woman, I am delighted to represent the community and will provide a strong, hard-working and caring voice for my local constituents,” she concluded.

Cllr Duffy is one of five women currently serving on Mayo County Council. Aontú’s Cllr Deirdre Lawless was co-opted to the local authority earlier this year in place of her brother, Deputy Paul Lawless.