Mulroy withdraws from Mayo general election race

WESTPORT Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy has withdrawn from the general election race.

He was put forward as a candidate for the Fianna Fáil selection convention taking place this Friday, but last night announced that he is uniting behind Deputy Dara Calleary and Senator Lisa Chambers as the party bids to win two seats in the Dáil, withdrawing his nomination.

A statement published on Councillor Mulroy's Facebook page set out that there was widespread speculation that Fianna Fáil would run three candidates in Mayo in the upcoming general election and that Councillor Mulroy was in pole position to capitalise on the political vacuum that Westport is facing.

However, Councillor Mulroy said he has spoken to the party’s grassroots in west Mayo and that despite having significant support to secure the party’s nomination, he believes that the strongest prospect of Fianna Fáil securing two seats in the 34th Dáil is to have a two-candidate strategy.

“Dara and Lisa have my full support for the upcoming general election, and it would not be in the party’s interest to split the vote by running a third candidate. As a committed and experienced public representative in the Westport area for 25 years I fully endorse them both,” commented Councillor Mulroy.

“Having met with a large number of people during the local election campaign and since my re-election, I see the groundswell of support is there. I will continue to be a strong voice for the people of Westport and west Mayo, and I intend to put my name forward when Seanad Éireann is being constituted following the general election. Mayo needs the strongest representation” he said.

The Mayo Fianna Fáil selection convention is now expected later this week to ratify Deputy Calleary and Senator Chambers to contest the upcoming election.