Murphy selected at FF election convention

FIANNA Fàil members from across North Cork gathered at the Hibernian Hotel on Monday evening to formally select Cllr Gearoid Murphy to run for re-election as the party’s candidate in the local elections next year.

Cllr. Murphy has served Mallow and the surrounding areas on Cork County Council since he was co-opted on to the seat formerly held by the late Cllr Dan Joe Fitzgerald in April last year. The convention was chaired by Cllr Ian Doyle and followed a formal nomination process which took place last month.

At the meeting it was announced that Cllr Murphy was the only candidate nominated and so was automatically deemed selected without a vote on the night. However, it is understood that the party’s National Constituenties Committee will later make a decision on a second candidate to be added to the Fianna Fàil ticket for the Mallow area.

Speaking at the convention, Cllr Murphy thanked delegates for their attendance and noted the high turn-out for the meeting. He also thanked party colleagues for their support and paid tribute to popular Fianna Fail councillor the late Dan Joe Fitzgerald (RIP).

Cllr Murphy added that he would carry the Fianna Fàil banner with distinction and prove himself worthy of the trust and confidence which all colleagues placed in him. He said there were many important issues facing the Mallow area, including the M20 motorway and and the related Northern Relief Road while council outdoor staff and housing were major issues.

The new Mallow electoral area now includes Mallow, Buttevant, Dromahane, Ballyclough, Liscarroll, Churchtown, Bweeng, Lyre, Grenagh and Rathduff as well as rural surrounding areas.