FF select three for election race

THE winds of change were in the air in Barlow House last Thursday night as Fianna Fáil’s selection convention took place to choose the party’s candidates for Drogheda in next year’s local elections.

The convention, which was chaired by Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, the party’s spokesperson on Justice, Children and Youth Affairs, and also attended by Deputy Thomas Byrne, party spokesperson on Education and Skills, confirmed three firsttime candidates for the party, Anthony Moore and James Byrne in Drogheda Urban and Richard Cooney in Drogheda Rural.

Both Senator Clifford-Lee and Deputy Byrne praised the calibre and diversity of the candidates, all of whom hail from Drogheda. Anthony Moore, a long-standing member of the party and its public relations officer in South Louth and East Meath, is a local barrister; James Byrne, a son of outgoing councillor Tommy Byrne, teaches in the Sacred Heart School; and Richard Cooney is a well-known farmer from Townrath.

Each of the candidates treated the attendees to rousing speeches and pledged to knock every door and pound every pavement in their bid to take three seats for the party in May.

Speaking to the Drogheda Independent after the convention, Anthony Moore said:- “Fianna Fáil in Drogheda now has a strong team for the local elections next May, well capable of representing all the people of the town.

‘Myself, James and Richard are all united in being passionately committed to Drogheda, proud of its illustrious past and determined to ensure that it has a bright and prosperous future. We look forward to the challenges of the campaign and to helping to solve the many problems that beset our town. Drogheda needs a strong and constructive voice in Louth County Council and we will make sure that that voice is heard loud and clear!”