Mayo Fine Gael in ongoing talks over election candidate nominations

The Fine Gael party in Mayo has extended the deadline for nominations to contest next month's general election selection convention to Wednesday evening next, August 28.

Party officials are locked in talks with a number of potential candidates in respect of putting their names forward.

Castlebar-based Minister of State Alan Dillon will head the team in his second general election.

However, the retirement announcement by long-serving Deputy Michael Ring has presented the organisation with a challenge in terms of identifying and securing a replacement candidate in the west Mayo area.

The party is also in talks with potential candidates in Ballina/north Mayo, east Mayo and south Mayo.

Names understood to be in the equation include former TD and senator Michelle Mulherin, Councillor John O'Hara, Councillor Alma Gallagher, former Mayo Person of the Year Martina Jennings and Keira Keogh, who stood as a party candidate in the local elections in the Westport district.

While a decision on strategy has not been finalised, the possibility of running four candidates in the five-seat constituency has not been ruled out.

The selection convention takes place on September 15.