Fine Gael to decide on Tullamore county council line-up

Long-serving Offaly county councillor Michael Fox (FG) is undecided as to whether he will run in the Tullamore or Edenderry electoral area. Even though today (Friday) is the deadline for nominations in the Tullamore Electoral Area before next Tuesday"s selection convention. Fine Gael is holding the selection convention for Tullamore next Monday night. The party"s strategy is to run two candidates in the Tullamore town area, one candidate in the Clara area and a fourth rural candidate. Fine Gael currently holds three seats in the seven-seater Tullamore Electoral Area and the party aims to hold these three seats, regardless of whether Cllr Fox runs in Tullamore or not and to possibly even win a fourth. Cllr Fox, who has been a county councillor since 1979, has to decide which electoral area would favour him best, as he normally receives a lot of first preference support in Ballinagar and Geashill, both of which have now been moved into the Edenderry electoral area under new boundary rules introduced last year. Even though Cllr Fox did not put his name forward for selection in the Edenderry area when the convention was held before Christmas, it"s thought that the popular farmer will be allowed to run in the six-seater Edenderry area. He has previously run and been elected three times in the Edenderry area. Incumbent councillors Tommy McKeigue and Molly Buckley are a certainty to run again, as both have strong Tullamore support and would be guaranteed a high number of first-preference votes. Tullamore Town Councillor Richard Egan has also been asked to consider putting his name forward for selection on the county council ticket. Two candidates have been approached to represent the party in the Clara area, however it"s believed that only one will go forward for seleciton next Tuesday. There are strong indications that local man Francis Feery, who previously ran as an independent, will put his name forward for selection next Tuesday. The rural candidate will be decided on once Cllr Fox has made his final decision on whether to run in Tullamore or Edenderry. Fine Gael sources indicate that Cllr Fox would have a good chance of winning a seat in the Edenderry Electoral Area, as the majority of councillors presently elected are from Edenderry town itself and further north in the county. The deadline for nominations is today (Friday) and the selection convention is taking place in the Clonamore House Hotel next Tuesday, February 10. Fine Gael"s deputy leader Richard Bruton will chair the meeting on Tuesday.