Convention nomination for Kelleher to join minister on FF ticket

Cllr Niall Kelleher: Nominated for selection at convention

Killarney councillor Niall Kelleher has been officially nominated to go forward to convention to select candidates for the next general election.

He has confirmed to KillarneyToday.com that he is aware he has been nominated by a number of branches of the party and by individuals to join Minister for Education, Noma Foley, on the Fianna Fáil ticket.

The deadline for nominations was set at 5 o’clock this Wednesday evening and Cllr Michael Cahill, who is based in Rossbeigh, has already indicated that he will also be seeking the FF nomination.

Cllr Kelleher, originally from Rathmore but now living in Killarney, was first elected to Kerry County Council for the Killarney Municipal District in 2014 and he has held his seat at the two elections since then.

Minister Norma Foley

A two-time Mayor of Killarney, he also served as Mayor of Kerry in 2019-2020 and he was President of Killarney Chamber of Tourism and Commerce for a two-year term. He is also the current chairman of the Christmas in Killarney Festival.

Cllr Niall Kelleher said he’ll work with the party, both locally and nationally, to ensure the best ticket is selected to ensure that Fianna Fáil secures two seats in the next general election.

Fianna Fáil party sources have indicated that it is likely that just one candidate – Minister Norma Foley – will be selected at convention and FF headquarters will almost certainly add a second candidate with geographical considerations a key factor.

The only other name in the frame at this stage is Cllr Mikey Sheehy in Tralee who said he would give the matter consideration if nominated.

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