Fianna Fáil selects two candidates to run in North Tipperary

Fianna Fail will run two candidates in the North Tipperary constituency in the upcoming General Election, it was decided at a party convention in Templemore on Friday night.

The long serving county councillor Michael Smith from Roscrea and the youngest councillor in the Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr Ryan O’ Meara, were ratified by delegates at the convention to both contest the election.

Limerick TD Niall Collins who attended the event wished both candidates the best of luck and thanked the party’s outgoing TD in the constituency Jackie Cahill for all his services as a TD since 2016.

Last week Deputy Cahill said he decided to not to contest the election based on health advice.

The selection of two Fianna Fáil candidates should add great excitement to the election in the North Tipperary, throwing out previous predictions.

Fianna Fáil have managed to win two seats before in the constituency, most notably in 1969 and 1977, but trends have changed and it will be an uphill struggle to repeat such an achievement.