Former Mayo TD's historic call to honour Oasis resurfaces amid speculation over FG future

Fine Gael in Mayo faces increased speculation about its candidate selection following Michael Ring's retirement, and former TD Michelle Mulherin has added further intrigue by renewing calls for a civic reception for the Gallagher brothers ahead of their anticipated concert in Croke Park next August.

Michelle Mulherin, the former TD who represented Mayo in the 31st Dáil from 2011 - 2016 and now rumoured to be considering another run for office, recently shared an article from 2009 that has reignited interest in her past initiatives.

Back in 2009, Mulherin, then a Mayo councillor, made national headlines when she called for a civic reception to honour the Irish roots of Noel and Liam Gallagher, the iconic rock stars of Oasis, who have strong ties to Mayo.

The brothers' mother, Peggy Sweeney, hails from Charlestown, and the Gallagher family regularly visited the town during the 1970s and 1980s. Despite their global fame, the brothers had never been officially recognised in their mother’s homeland a "long-standing injustice," as Mulherin described it at the time.

In the article, Mulherin expressed her admiration for the Gallagher brothers, noting their deep connection to Mayo and their embrace of Irish culture. "The story of Liam and Noel Gallagher is that of so many of the Irish diaspora, it's the Irish dream fulfilled," she said.

The resurfacing of this article comes at a time when speculation is rife about Mulherin's and Fine Gael's next steps politically.

With Fine Gael extending its nomination period from Wednesday last week to tomorrow night, many in the county wonder if Mulherin will again throw her hat into the ring for the upcoming general election.

Her recent tweet about the 2009 motion to celebrate the Gallagher brothers has only added to the intrigue.