A 43-year-old community worker and mother of five was last night selected to contest the Dublin south central by-election for Fine Gael.
Ms Catherine Byrne, who was elected to Dublin Corporation in June, was the unanimous choice at the selections convention.
She is chairwoman of St Michael's Community Centre in Inchicore and has worked for community and voluntarily groups in the inner city for 20 years.
The Labour Party is expected to move the writ for the by-election this week.