Michael Smith and Ryan O' Meara bid to become the Fianna Fáil candidate in North Tipperary
Two Fianna Fáil councillors will face off in a contest this weekend to become the candidate to contest the forthcoming general election for the party in the North Tipperary constituency.
Roscrea’s Michael Smith, jnr., a son of the former senior Fianna Fáil minister, Michael Smith, and the Nenagh Municipal District councillor Ryan O’ Meara have put their names before delegates who will attend the convention.
In a statement, Michael Smith, who has served on Tipperary County Council for the past 20 years, said: “I am officially declaring my candidacy for Fianna Fáil in the upcoming general election.
“Having widely consulted with family, friends and loyal supporters I believe that I can win a seat for our party. I have worked diligently as a councillor for Tipperary for the past 20 years. I have a proven track record of hard work, dedication and commitment to the people.
“It would be my great privilege to ask th people of North Tipperary and West Kilkenny to support my candidacy for TD in the uncoming election.”
Part of Kilkenny has been integrated into the North Tipperary constituency for the upcoming election.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil County Councillor for the Nenagh, Borrisokane and the Lower Ormond area of Tipperary County Council, Cllr Ryan O'Meara, launched his campaign to contest next weekend's North Tipperary selection convention organised by party headquarters over the October Bank Holiday Weekend.
The 29-year-old councillor was elected to the county council last June on his first attempt, regaining a seat for Fianna Fáil in the area after a ten-year absence. Cllr O'Meara has worked as the Parliamentary Assistant to the party's outgoing TD Jackie Cahill for the last four years. Deputy Cahill is not contesting the election on health advice.
Speaking at his campaign launch in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh, Cllr O'Meara said: “I am delighted to be launching my campaign tonight to contest next weekend's selection convention. I have spent the last week canvassing Fianna Fáil members right across North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny and I will continue to do so until I speak to each and every member in advance of next weekend's decision by our membership.”
A part of Northwest Kilkenny has been integrated into the North Tipperary Constituency for the forthcoming election.
Cllr O' Meara declared: “I want to be a new, fresh, young, and unapologetically ambitious voice for what we can collectively achieve for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, together in Dáil Éireann. It is time for a new generation of politicians in our area. I want to lead the charge in delivering the unwavering and dedicated public service from our politicians that we all deserve.”
Cllr O'Meara stated that priorities for him, if selected by the local party membership next weekend and elected to the Dáil, would be housing, health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, rural and urban development, disability and carers rights, and quality of life for all ages.
A NEW VOICE
Concluding, Cllr O'Meara said: “My slogan during last June's local elections was: ‘Ag obair i dtreo ár dtodhchaí’. ‘Working towards our future’ is just as relevant in this General Election as it was last June, and I want to be a progressive, new voice in Dáil Éireann for our party and for the people of North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny.”
Guest speakers on the night included Deputy Jackie Cahill, TD; Cllr Kay Cahill Skehan (Thurles); James O'Connor, TD (Cork East), as well as former Tipperary County Councillors, Mattie Ryan Coole (Curreeny), Jim Casey (Cloughjordan), John Sheehy (Ballina), and Tom Harrington (Nenagh).
Messages of support on the night were received from former Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary, Máire Hoctor; and Cllr Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council and Fianna Fáil county councillor in the Castlecomer Local Electoral Area.
Apologies and words of support were also received on the night from former Thurles County Councillor Seamus Hanafin, and the Chairperson of the Eamon & Sinead De Valera Cumann, Thurles, Denis O'Connell.