At the close of nominations last Friday there were eight candidates nominated to go forward to the Fine Gael Tipperary Declaration Convention which takes place in The Ragg, Thurles next Friday night, September 15.
However former TD, Tom Hayes has since announced his decision not to contest the next general election and has withdrawn his name from the Fine Gael selection race.
Those going forward are former TD Noel Coonan, councillors Michael Murphy, Michael Fitzgerald and Mary ‘Hanna’ Hourigan, as well as Garret Ahearn, Shelagh Marshall and Mary Newman
The Declaration Convention will give each of the candidates an opportunity to put their case forward to the Fine Gael party membership in Tipperary, in advance of a selection convention early in 2018, where the party members will decide who to nominate to contest the next general election whenever it occurs.
The event in The Ragg will kick-start the process which will be followed by five candidate husting events in the coming weeks in Carrick On Suir, Roscrea, Tipperary, Nenagh and Clonmel.
Speaking ahead of the Declaration Convention, chairperson of Fine Gael in Tipperary Lucy McCormack said, “We are delighted to see such interest in the party in contesting the nomination and for the membership to have such an array of people to choose from. It should be a great event on Friday night and I would invite anyone with an interest to come along and see for themselves.
“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and other ministers will be in attendance and it will be a chance for members and supporters to hear from and meet with them as well as our eight potential candidates. It is intended to have the hustings complete prior to Christmas and the selection convention itself held early in the new year,” she concluded.
