*Joe Carey TD (FG). Photograph: Natasha Barton
LEONORA CAREY (FG) the sister of Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) has been nominated for Fine Gael’s selection convention in Clare to contest the next General Election.
Her entry in the race confirms that Joe Carey will not be seeking re-election to the Dáil and is now set to bow out of politics. He was elected to Dáil Éireann on four occasions.
Nominations for Fine Gael’s selection convention close on Monday evening (August 26th) at 5pm.
A native of Clarecastle, Leonora has previously served as Chair of the party’s National Executive Council, she has been involved with the party for three decades. Her brother Joe was first elected as a TD for Clare in 2007, retaining his seat in 2011, 2016 and most recently in February 2020.
Their father Donal was a Clare TD from 1982 to 2002, serving as Minister of State from 1995 to 1997 and he has been a key adviser during Joe’s political career.
Currently employed by the University of Limerick Hospitals Group, Leonora works as an occupational therapist manager, she previously worked for Milfore Care Centre.
Members of the Carey family have stayed tight-lip on their plans to hold Joe’s seat since he took ill in March of last year. When questioned by The Clare Echo in April on the potential of putting her name forward, Leonora stated, “there is no comment because there is no comment to make”.
Party members in Clare have privately expressed their frustration with the approach of the Carey family in trying to maintain such a tight grip on what happens with the party’s seat in Clare which was won and retained by Joe in successive elections.
Senator Martin Conway (FG) has confirmed to The Clare Echo that he will be allowing his name forward for the convention with Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) and Cllr Mary Howard (FG) both ruling themselves out.
