Growing number of Offaly councillors eyeing Dáil bids

A handful of councillors in Offaly have their sights set on higher office, with John Clendennen (FG) and Eddie Fitzpatrick (FF) confirming this week that they will be seeking nominations from their parties to run in the next general election.

Their announcements follow on from Tullamore's Neil Feighery indicating last month that he would also be seeking a nomination from Fine Gael to contest a Dáil seat.

Shinrone's Cllr Peter Ormond (FF), who topped the poll in the Birr Municipal District at the local elections in June, could not be reached at the time of going to press but contested the last general election and indicated earlier this summer that he was considering another run for the national parliament.

On Sunday last, Portarlington's Cllr Fitzpatrick, who received the highest first preference vote in Offaly at the local elections, confirmed he would be putting his name forward "as a candidate to represent Fianna Fail in the new three seat Offaly constituency at the next general election".

He stated that he had been "strongly endorsed by the Edenderry Fianna Fail Cumann" at a recent meeting, with members supporting him as a candidate to go forward to selection convention when that date is announced by the party.

Cllr Fitzpatrick contested the 2016 general election alongside Barry Cowen, but narrowly missed out on election on that occasion. Cowen's Dáil seat is currently vacant after he was elected as an MEP in June.

In addition, Cllr Fitzpatrick said that, if he was chosen as a Dáil candidate and secured election, he would endorse former Edenderry councillor Robert McDermott, who lost his seat by a small margin in June, as his replacement on the county council.

While the date for the Fianna Fáil selection convention in Offaly has not yet been announced, Fine Gael's is set to take place on August 29.

On Tuesday of this week, Birr-area Fine Gael councillor John Clendennen stated that he would be joining Neil Feighery in seeking to secure a general election nomination for the party on that date.

Cllr Clendennen said that, over the past number of weeks, he had been discussing a potential general election run with his family and with "a broad cohort of the party membership" in Offaly.

He pointed out that, at the local elections in June, Fine Gael had taken an extra seat in the Birr Municipal District and that he had also recorded an increase in his own personal vote.

"The results of the local elections and stellar leadership shown by our new Taoiseach, Simon Harris, have undoubtedly brought a new energy to the party both locally and nationally," stated Cllr Clendennen.

"I wholeheartedly believe the party must now build on the current momentum to ensure Fine Gael wins a seat in Offaly in the next General Election.

"It's important to acknowledge the help and support of so many people across the constituency, that gave up their time to help and campaigned, ensuring Fine Gael now holds five from nineteen seats at Offaly County Council.

Cllr Clendennen was first elected to Offaly County Council in 2014, and has contested party selection conventions previously.

"Over the past ten years as an elected public representative, I have proven my ability to work diligently to deliver for local communities, and I believe I have the skillset and experience to represent the people of Offaly at Dáil Éireann," he said.

"I am now asking the party membership to give me their support at the selection convention scheduled for August 29."

Last month the Green Party announced that its Minister of State Pippa Hackett would be running in the Offaly constituency at the general election. The Geashill resident ran for the leadership of her party this summer but was defeated by Roderic O'Gorman in a close contest.

The Offaly Independent contacted Sinn Fein's press office this week to ask about its general election plans in the county but at the time of writing we had not received a response.