*Louise McNamara (right). Photograph: Joe Buckley
A combined effort from party members is needed to help Fianna Fáil rebuild in Shannon Town.
Louise McNamara expressed that sentiment following last week’s selection convention to fill the Clare County Council vacated by Cathal Crowe (FF). The Shannon woman had put her name forward before the membership and was tipped by some party sources as the favourite to prevail.
Shannon Town has been without a Fianna Fáil councillor since Sean Hillery lost his seat in the 2004 local election to Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) and Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). The absence of a party representative from Shannon Town on the local authority was referred to by Louise speaking at the selection convention. She began her address to members by congratulating Pat O’Gorman on his success.
“I am willing to work with him to help rebuild the party in this particular area of the town, we all need to put our elbow to the board, it was an honour to be part of the democratic process that our party operates on, one member one vote, I wish everybody the very best, I commiserate with Robert and Noel”.
Living in Stonehall, Louise contested the 2014 local election and was eliminated on the fifth count. She felt the presence of twenty year old Emma Begley on the ballot paper offered a glimmer of optimism for Fianna Fáil. “Unfortunately Emma had pulled her name but it was great to see young people wanting to be a part of the process, it gives Fianna Fáil hope to bring young people along”.
