Two well-known Laois GAA faces are set to go head-to-head in the upcoming Fianna Fail Selection Convention for the Borris-In-Ossory/Mountmellick area.
Former GAA President, Liam O’Neill, and former hurling chairman for the Laois County Board, Sean Mortimer, are understood to be on a direct collision course to get on the ticket.
2019 will see the first election in the history of LaoisToday and the runners and riders are coming more into focus across the parties as we approach the new year.
The Fianna Fail selection convention for the Local Election for the areas of Portarlington-Graiguecullen and Borris-Mountmellick takes place Thursday night in the Midlands Park Hotel.
LaoisToday understands that eight people will put themselves forward to receive the backing of the party to run in the 2019 Local Election next summer – with six of them already assured of their place on the ballot.
Sitting Cllrs Paschal McEvoy and Padraig Fleming (both Portarlington-Graiguecullen area) and Paddy Bracken and Seamus McDonald (both Borris-Mountmellick area) will put their name forward again – and they each confirmed as much to us recently.
LaoisToday understands that Fianna Fail members will select three people to run in the Portarlington-Graiguecullen area next year and as there is only one other entrant alongside McEvoy and Fleming, this is already decided without the need for a vote.
Portarlington native Deidre O’Connell-Hopkins has signalled her intention to run and she will be officially put on the ballot alongside the two sitting Cllrs on Thursday night.
However, it is the Borris-Mountmellick area where we are likely to see a real contest.
LaoisToday understands that four people are going to be selected from here and there are five people in the mix.
The selection process is to be done under the old boundaries with members picking three candidates from Mountmellick and one candidate from the old Borris-In-Ossory area.
Sitting Cllrs Paddy Bracken and Seamus McDonald will get the nod and they are to be joined by newcomer and retired Clonaslee garda Declan Goode.
But it is in the old Borris-In-Ossory area where Sean Mortimer and Liam O’Neill will go head to head to secure the backing of the party.
LaoisToday understands there are 160 members of Fianna Fail in that Cumann and it will be they who decide who will go forward next Summer.
The Portlaoise selection convention took place a few weeks ago where Donal Kelly, Cllr Catherine Fitzgerald and Cllr John Joe Fennelly were chosen.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Picture: Alf Harvey.
Picture: Alf Harvey/hrphoto.ie
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