Fianna Fáil selects candidates to run in Claremorris area

FIANNA Fáil has selected two candidates to run in the Claremorris local electoral area at next year’s local elections.

Outgoing councillor Damien Ryan will run alongside newcomer Stephen Nolan, who is based in Ballyhaunis.

Mr Nolan currently runs Mac Siúrtain’s pub and has a number of business interests in the area,

Fine Gael have already selected local woman Alma Gallagher to contest the seat being vacated by long-serving local councillor John Cribbin, who decided not to see another term.

Cllr Ryan, who was first elected in 1999, is going for his sixth term as a county councillor. 

Having ran alongside the late Michael Carty in 2019, he is currently the only Fianna Fáil councillor in the six-seat Claremorris area.

Cllr Ryan was elected on the second count at the last local election and received 1,572 first preference votes.

Speaking to The Mayo News, Cllr Ryan said he believed running two candidates was ‘the right strategy’ for the party.

“The game plan is to go out and maximise our representation,” the Ballinrobe-based representative added.  

Fianna Fáil senators Lisa Chambers and Niall Blaney, Minister of State Dara Calleary TD and were among those in attendance at the Fianna Fáil convention in Ballyhaunis Community School on Monday, November 28, where the two candidates were ratified.

Cllr Ryan said there was ‘a huge opportunity’ for his party to win a seat in the area, where the party have traditionally had strong representation.

_{Stephen Nolan and Cllr Damien Ryan pictured with former Mayo footballer and hurler Keith Higgins and Minister of State Dara Calleary TD at last week’s Fianna Fáil Convention for the Claremorris Municipal Area (Pic: Sinead Mallee)}

Fianna Fáil has already selected its three outgoing councillors Al McDonnell, Blackie Gavin and Martin McLaughlin to run in the Castlebar electoral area.

The Mayo News understands that long-serving county councillor Annie May Reape could be set to run for another term in the Ballina electoral area.

Cllr Reape previously told this newspaper that she had not decided whether to seek another term.

First elected in 1991, Cllr Reape became the only woman ever to serve as Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council when she wore the chain of office from 2000 to 2001.

Fianna Fáil currently have ten sitting councillors on Mayo County Council.