Former Laois Offaly TD to direct Fine Gael General Election campaign

Taoiseach Simon Harris has given a key job to to former Laois Offaly TD Olwyn Enright at forthcoming General Election.

The former TD, Offaly County Councillor and current National Director of Organisation for Fine Gael was appointed by Minster Harris as Director of Elections for the upcoming national poll.

Ms Enright said he was honoured to have been asked by the Taoiseach to serve the party as Director of Elections.

“Simon Harris has brought new energy as leader of Fine Gael and with our new team of candidates across the country, we are looking forward to fighting the General Election in the coming weeks.

“The recent Local and European elections were a great success for Fine Gael under our new leader with a team of high calibre of candidates supported by a strong organisation.

“The General Election will be no different, and Fine Gael have now selected 71 candidates in 41 constituencies, 41 men and 30 women. We will have between 75 and 80 candidates running in the election.

“Our candidates come from many different backgrounds and are women and men embedded in their communities, with the energy and determination to deliver for their constituencies and make excellent TDs.

“Having contested several elections myself, and having supported many other candidates, I know what it takes to fight an election and am looking forward to supporting the party and our team of candidates in this role,” Ms Enright concluded.

Taoiseach Harris said: “Olwyn has been an invaluable source of advice, experience, and insight as we prepare for the challenges ahead. With her political pedigree and background, Olwyn knows exactly what it takes to win a Dáil seat. More below picture.

Olwyn Enright at a Fine Gael Golf Classic when she was a TD. 

“She is providing immeasurable advice to all our candidates across the country who are very lucky to have a person of Olwyn’s stature on their side. I’m delighted she is on my team.

“Fine Gael candidates across the country are working day and night to deliver for their communities. Fine Gael will run a team of experience and energy in this general election. We will take nothing for granted and will work hard for every vote,” Mr Harris said.

Dep Enright served as a Laois Offaly TD from 2002 to 2011 after which Fine Gael entered Government with the Labour Party. While Birr based, Dep Enright secured a respectable vote in parts of Laois, especially in the Camross area.

She followed in the footsteps of her father Tom Enright who was a Fine Gael TD for the Laois–Offaly from 1969 to 1992 and 1997 to 2002. 

In July 2005, Enright married Joe McHugh, who was then a Fine Gael Senator. In the 2007 general election, McHugh was elected to the Dáil to represent the Donegal North-East constituency. Enright retained her seat in Laois–Offaly, making them the third married couple to be elected to sit in the same Dáil. Dep McHugh is stepping down from politics at the next General Election.

Enright served as party Spokesperson on Social and Family Affairs from 2007 to 2010. In June 2010, she supported Richard Bruton's leadership challenge to Enda Kenny. Following Kenny's victory in a motion of confidence, Enright was not reappointed to the front bench.

On 30 August 2010, while pregnant with her second child, Enright announced that she would not seek to retain her seat at the next election, citing pressures of juggling her family life and career.