*Taoiseach Simon Harris (FG) with Cllr Pat Burke (FG).
FINE GAEL are scrambling to field a second General Election candidate in Clare.
Party members had received a new lease of life when Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) appeared to be entering the race, however his decision not to go forward represents a big blow.
Former Clare footballer and Doonbeg publican David Tubridy had been linked with a Dáil bid but Tubridy confirmed to The Clare Echo that such reports were well wide of the mark and that he was not interested in contesting a General Election.
Taoiseach Simon Harris (FG) was among those to approach Cllr Cooney to try convince him to let his name appear on the ballot paper but the reversal from the O’Callaghans Mills man is a setback.
The Clare Echo understands that the Carey camp is keen that only one Fine Gael candidate remain on the ballot paper. Leonora Carey (FG) was the only nominee to stand at the party’s selection convention held over the summer after Senator Martin Conway (FG) withdrew in the days leading up to the convention.
There may be struggles in Fine Gael to add to their representation on the ballot paper but more names are entering the field in Clare.
Two-time local election candidate, Amanda Major (IND) a former member of Fianna Fáil and the Green Party has confirmed she is seeking election. “For too long, we’ve witnessed a lack of accountability from leadership, with taxpayer money mismanaged on projects that don’t address our most urgent needs,” she stated.
She secured 396 first preference votes in the local election held in June. She said her key issues are accountability and transparency, housing and healthcare plus support for local communities and businesses.
Clare FM have reported that Paddy Murphy, manager of The Nineteenth Bar in Lahinch is to go forward for General Election. Reports of his candidacy had been dismissed as a hoax in Lahinch prior to this.
