Fianna Fáil establish ticket for local elections in Limerick
FIANNA Fáil members across Limerick have picked the candidates the party will run in June's local elections.
Ahead of the Christmas period, the party held selection conventions which will decide who will run for the party in the next election for Limerick City and County Council.
In Limerick City North, veteran councillor Kieran O'Hanlon will seek election for a sixth straight time.
If he is returned, he will become the longest serving local councillor, having first been elected to the old Limerick City Council back in 1991.
The party will likely add a second candidate to the northside ward in the new year.
Meanwhile, in City West, an area which stretches from the city centre out to Patrickswell and Ballybrown, just one candidate has so far been added.
That's Isabel Aherne, a health and safety officer who lives in Patrickswell, but was previously based in Raheen.
It's almost certain further candidates will be added, with outgoing councillor Azad Talukder, the current metropolitan district leader, set to be joined by one other representative on Fianna Fail's ballot.
Two outgoing councillors have been picked to run again in City East, which covers the suburbs of Castletroy and Monaleen.
Councillor Catherine Slattery of Old Cork Road will hope to achieve a second consecutive election.
Annacotty man Joe Pond, who was co-opted following the sad death of Jerry O'Dea, will hope to be elected in his own right next June. And it's anticipated a third candidate will be added in the new year.
While additions are still to be made in the city, in rural Limerick, the party has completed its line-ups.
Fianna Fail is to run three candidates in Adare-Rathkeale: outgoing councillor Bridie Collins who is based in Adare, Gerald Ward, based near Askeaton - where the party's veteran councillor Kevin Sheahan is retiring - and Trina O'Dea of Croom.
In Newcastle West, where Fine Gael took four of the six seats on offer at the May 2019 election, Fianna Fail are running four candidates.
Outgoing councillors Michael Collins and Francis Foley, based in Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale respectively, will be joined on the ticket by Broadford man Gerard Madigan and Athea's Kathleen Barrett.
The party is also running four candidates in Cappamore/Kilmallock.
Councillors Mike Donegan, based in Kilmallock and Martin Ryan, Cappamore, will bid for re-election.
Their running mates will be Knocklong man Al Fitzgerald and Dinny Hourigan of Caherconlish.
Limerick TD Niall Collins said: "We are the largest party in local government across Ireland and we are setting out to maintain our position as this. We are fielding a very strong selection of candidates across the city and county. There are challenges everywhere. Everyone is a challenge. We just concentrate on our own candidates, on their campaigns and see what they can do for their communities."