Former Mayo TD Michelle Muherin withdraws from Fine Gael general election selection convention

FORMER Mayo TD and Senator Michelle Mulherin is no longer seeking to run for Fine Gael in the next general election.

Ms Mulherin confirmed that she is withdrawing her name from the party’s upcoming general election selection convention and will be instead supporting party colleague Cllr John O’Hara for the nomination. 

Cllr O’Hara, Cllr Alma Gallagher, local election candidate Keira Keogh, and Minister Alan Dillon are the four remaining candidates seeking a nomination at the party convention, which takes place this Sunday, September 15. 

Thanking her fellow party members for nominating her and well-wishers and supporters, she said withdrawing her nomination was “not an easy decision for me as I really enjoyed being a public representative and the cut and thrust of politics.” 

“I put my heart into it for 20 years. It was an honour and an experience of a lifetime for me. I believe I did my best and am leaving a legacy of good work done and achievements for my hometown and my county,” Ms Mulherin added.

“It is not feasible for me to continue in politics and I am instead focusing on my work as a solicitor which I enjoy and which I returned to post the 2020 General Election. I am glad to say that I am putting to good use my experience and learnings and people skills gained from political life, serving as best I can in my work as a solicitor and officer of the court and I am most grateful for that.”

She concluded by confirming her support for Cllr John O’Hara, describing him as ‘a hardworking and down to earth, public representative’ who ‘would be an excellent TD for Mayo’. 

Ms Mulherin began her political career in 1999 when she was elected to Ballina Town Council. She was later elected to Mayo County Council in 20024 and unsuccessfully ran in the general election of 2007 before being elected a TD in 2011. 

She subsequently lost her Dáil seat in the 2016 general election but was appointed to Seanad Éireann by Taoiseach Enda Kenny. She unsuccessfully stood for the Dáil in 2020, an election which saw party colleagues Alan Dillon and Michael Ring elected to the four-seat Mayo constituency.