Kinnitty based councillor selected as Fine Gael General Election candidate in Offaly

KINNITTY based Cllr John Clendennen has been selected by Fine Gael as their sole candidate to contest the forthcoming Genera Election in the new Offaly three-seater constituency.

Cllr Clendennen defeated the only other candidate in the race, Tullamore Electoral Area councillor Neil Feighery at the convention in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Thursday night.

The convention – to which the press were not invited – was attended by over 250 delegates from all parts of the county.

No details of the number of votes each candidate garnered were contained in the statement released by the Fine Gael press office shortly after the conclusion of the convention.

The event was chaired by Minister Damian English and was attended by Deputy Charles Flanagan, Senator Garret Ahern and former TDs Tom Enright and Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Cllr Clendennen was formally proposed by Birr-based soilcitor, Ken Enright and seconded by Mary Greene from Daingean.

Cllr Feighery was proposed by former Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and seconded by Edenderry Electoral Area councillor Noel Cribben.

Fine Gael have now chosen 33 General Election candidates in 21 constituencies.

In the statement released after the convention, Cllr Clendennan said: “It is a goal I have worked towards for many years, and it is the privilege of a lifetime to be selected. This is a proud evening for me and my family.

“Our views, our hopes, our ambitions, our future and our party deserve to be represented as a county in Dáil Éireann.

“I want to express my gratitude for the support of the party here not just this evening, but over many years and I look forward to working with everyone to ensure we have a strong, effective, and successful campaign.

“It will take hard work and a mammoth team effort involving early mornings and late nights and I am more than prepared and ready for the challenge.

“The new Offaly three-seater constituency reflects the increased population living in the county following the Boundary Commission Review and presents a unique opportunity to elect a Fine Gael TD to represent the county.

“We had a strong performance locally in the June elections, and I firmly believe my work as a county councillor, my work as business owner and my work in my own community makes me a strong candidate with the potential to win a seat.

“I am business focused, progress focused, innovation focused and have a proven track record.  I now look forward to concentrating my energies on working for Offaly and getting elected to Dáil Éireann.”