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06 Sept 2025

Mulroy decides not to contest general election

Westport based councillor announces backing for Dara Calleary and Lisa Chambers and says he intends to seek a nomination for the next Seanad

Mulroy decides not to contest general election

Cllr Brendan Mulroy will not be letting his name go forward at Friday's Fianna Fail general election convention.

Reporter:

Mayo News reporter

04 Sept 2024 9:30 AM

Westport based Fianna Fail councillor Brendan Mulroy has announced that he is uniting behind Dara Calleary, TD, and Senator Lisa Chambers in the party’s bid to secure two seats in the next Dáil and has withdrawn his nomination ahead of the party’s convention due to take place this Friday, September 6.
There was widespread speculation that Fianna Fail would run three candidates in Mayo in the upcoming General Election and that Cllr Mulroy was in pole position to capitalise on the political vacuum that Westport is facing after the retirement of long serving Fine Gael TD Michael Ring.
However, Cllr Mulroy said he has spoken to the party’s grassroots in West Mayo and that despite having significant support to secure the party’s nomination, he believes that the strongest prospect of Fianna Fail securing two seats in the 34th Dáil is to have a two-candidate strategy. South Mayo based councillor, Damien Ryan, was expected to let his name go forward at Friday's convention but it remains to be seen what his approach will now be following the announcement made by Cllr Mulroy. 
He was first elected in 1999 for Westport Town Council and Mulroy went on to get re-elected in the subsequent two local elections in 2004 and 2009 by the people of Westport. Having served on Westport Town Council for 15 years, he was then elected for the first time to Mayo County Council in 2014 and re-elected in 2019 and again in June 2024. He has served as Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council and is the current Leas Cathaoirleach of the local authority.
“Dara and Lisa have my full support for the upcoming General Election, and it is my belief that it would not be in the party’s interest to split the vote by running a third candidate. As a committed and experienced public representative in the Westport area for 25 years I fully endorse them both,” commented Cllr. Mulroy.
“Having met with a large number of people during the local election campaign and since my re-election, I see the groundswell of support is there. I will continue to be a strong voice for the people of Westport and West Mayo, and I intend to put my name forward when Seanad Eireann is being constituted following the General Election. Mayo needs the strongest representation,” he said.

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