Fiona O'Loughlin still knocking on the door

Fiona O'Loughlin has been a frequent poll-topper for Fianna Fail in eight local elections but remains baffled and frustrated at the Party's stalling on adding her to the ticket for the upcoming General Election. Party leader Micheál Martin insists the party needs more women candidates but the reality is that some members of the local constituency are questioning the wisdom of standing a second candidate with sitting Fianna Fáil TD, Sean O Fearghail.

Ms O'Loughlin insists she has never sought preferential treatment as a woman politician in any of her 30 years of local work,but she believes the rule on 30pc women candidates strengthens her case for nomination.

The sitting TD Sean O Fearghail has previously stated that Ms O'Loughlin has every right to stand, and the candidate strategy was largely a matter for headquarters and the national executive.

As in Rome with the election of a new Pontiff,we eagerly await to see a plume of white smoke ascending over Fiona's campaign office at Canning Place......