FG activist throws his hat in the ring
Sligo businessman Noel Merrick who is a well known Fine Gael Party activist has thrown his hat in the ring in a bid to enter national politics as a FG candidate for the Sligo Leitrim constituency.
Noel confirmed to The Sligo Champion yesterday (Monday) that he is seeking a party nomination for the upcoming general election.
The selection convention takes place in the Clayton Hotel, Sligo on Thursday July 19 th where Noel is confident of getting the 1,000 or so party members to vote in his favour.
The 56-year-old Sligo man says that he ‘ has done the ground work’ in terms of canvassing and ‘sounding out individuals.’
Noel grew up on a family farm in Riverstown, went to Secondary School in Boyle, and studied agriculture in college. He now lives, together with his wife Christina and their three adult children, at Carraroe, Sligo.
Although politics has always played an enormous part in his life, Noel says ‘ this will be my first time running for politics but I am a party member for 35 years.’
Now aged 56, Noel has been an active member of Fine Gael all his adult life. He is a former chairman of Young Fine Gael in this constituency and also a former chairman of the Ballymote District Executive.
He is probably best known as Director of Elections in the 2011 general election when Fine Gael took two out of three seats. He is currently Chairman of the FG Constituency Executive.
Outside of politics, Noel works extensively in the agricultural sector.
“I began my career in the 80’s in Connacht Gold Co-op. I then took up the challenging position of regional manager with Volac Ireland. There we introduced and developed the big bale silage system on farms across the West of Ireland,” he explains.
He is currently managing a successful commercial property investment business, based in Sligo town.
He is excited about the prospect of entering politics and says his experience with Fine Gael will stand to him.
He adds: “I have done a lot of canvassing with delegates and expect to do well at the convention.”
Noel is proud of his association with Fine Gael and stresses: “I know that the Fine Gael led Government has done an excellent job in managing the country back from deep recession to financial stability.”
However, he says he is acutely aware that much of the recovery has taken place around Dublin and on the east coast.
“Our region is made up of well-educated and hard-working communities. I am motivated to deliver the same level of growth to our area,” he says.
“Large-scale employment businesses and infrastructural projects, together with tourism investment, will ensure development and prosperity in our region.
“Our communities need and deserve these investments. “
Noel told the Champion that he has the political experience and the business know-how to deliver. As he concludes: “I have the determination, the work ethic and the vision needed to make these changes happen for this constituency.”
He believes the FG strategy committee for the region will recommend one FG candidate from Leitrim and one from Sligo .