Pat Chambers added to Fine Gael ticket in Belmullet Electoral Area

Well-known Tiernaur based sheep farmer Pat Chambers has been chosen by Fine Gael to run for the party in the Belmullet Electoral Area in next year's local elections.

Pat Chambers will join Erris-based councillor Gerry Coyle on the Fine Gael ticket as the party bids to win two of the three seats on offer in the Belmullet Electoral Area.

The two candidates were selected by local members of the party at the Fine Gael Local Election selection convention which took place last night in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet.

Maria Walsh, MEP for Midlands-Northwest was guest chair of the convention which heard from several speakers including Deputies Alan Dillon and Michael Ring who gave updates on current issues at a national level.

Incumbent Councillor Gerry Coyle, and new candidate Pat Chambers from Tiernaur were proposed, seconded and ratified at the convention to stand as Fine Gael’s candidates for the 2024 Local Elections.

Mr Chambers, a co-ordinator of the Mayo Blackface group, spoke about his almost 35-year involvement in farming in the county. A fourth-generation hill farmer, he has been a strong advocate for farmers across the county through his involvement with the Irish Farmers’ Association and as the Mayo representative on the organisation’s Hill Farmers Committee, which represents over 20,000 hill farmers nationwide. Pat is a member-farmer of the Ólas Hill Farms collective, which he helped establish in 2004. From an initial membership of 40 farmers, the collective now counts over 400 members across Mayo.

Recently, Mr Chambers advocated for fair treatment of Achill farmers when he headed a delegation from the island to meet with Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue in Donegal to discuss a reversal of the decision to reduce payments as a result of wildfires in the area.

Cllr Gerry Coyle has been a councillor for the region since 1999 and thanked his family and the people of the area for their sustained support as he seeks reelection.

“I have done my very best for the area I have had the privilege of representing for almost 25 years in Mayo County Council. I look forward to continuing that important work and delivering for our people if re-elected next year” said Cllr Coyle.

The meeting also heard tributes to the late Michael J Carolan whose first anniversary occurs this month. Welcoming Mr. Carolan’s family to the convention, Michael Ring described him as 'the most loyal and dedicated member of Fine Gael over many years and somebody who is sadly missed by everyone who knew him'.

Commenting following the convention, Chairperson of the Mayo Fine Gael Executive, Jim Higgins said: “I am very pleased to welcome Pat Chambers to the ticket to stand alongside sitting Councillor Gerry Coyle. Pat has already proven himself as a strong advocate for farming families across Mayo and will undoubtedly bring this drive and knowledge into the election next year.

“Cllr. Coyle has built a proven track record of delivery, of public service and an unwavering commitment to the communities that he represents so passionately.”

"This is a very strong ticket for the Belmullet area next year and the Mayo Fine Gael Executive looks forward to working with both candidates to win two seats for the party" Mr Higgins concluded.

The race to be elected in the Belmullet Electoral Area is likely to be one of the keenly contested elections in next year's local elections in Mayo with just three seats to be won. The three sitting councillors, Gerry Coyle from Fine Gael and the Fianna Fáil duo of Paul McNamara from Achill and Seán Carey from Belmullet are all expected to contest the election and with Pat Chambers added to the Fine Gael ticket and Sinn Féin's Rosaleen Lally expected to challenge for a seat, it will likely be one of the most intriguing battles of the election.