Coyle rules out run for Dáil

LONG-serving Fine Gael county councillor Gerry Coyle has ruled himself out of the running for Michael Ring’s Dáil seat. 

Deputy Ring’s 45-year career in politics is to end after he announced that he will not be contesting the next general election. 

The Fine Gael veteran had mentioned party colleagues Cllr Coyle and Cllr Peter Flynn as potential Dáil candidates during an interview he gave after his announcement. 

Cllr Coyle said that a move from Mayo County Council to Dáil Éireann was ‘not for me’ when asked if he would consider running for Fine Gael in the next general election.

“I have been asked and approached, but I don’t think so. It’s not for me,” Cllr Coyle told The Mayo News.

“I haven’t made up my mind on it. We’re talking to different people, but there will never be another Michael Ring, that’s for sure. 

Cllr Coyle’s father, Henry Coyle, was elected as a Cumann na nGaedheal TD for Mayo in 1923.

A native of Geesla, Cllr Coyle has been a county councillor since 1999 and wore the chain of Cathaoirleach in 2006-2007. 

He received 1,519 first preference votes in the Belmullet Local Electoral area in the recent local elections and was re-elected on the fourth count.

Fine Gael are due to host their Mayo Dáil selection convention on September 15, with the closing date for nominations set for August 21. 

In addition to Deputy Ring’s departure after 30 years as a TD, Mayo will also gain an extra seat after the constituency became a five-seater after the redrawing of constituency boundaries.