'Cabin Fever' contestant to meet FG secretary

Cabin Fever contestant Ms Fiona McGonnell will meet senior Fine Gael personnel next week, following speculation that she might run for the party in the local elections next year in Co Cavan.

Ms McGonnell, originally from Cavan town, but now based in Santry, Dublin confirmed last night that she would meet party secretary Mr Tom Curran.

She was "considering all options" but as yet, there was "nothing on the table".

The IT consultant, who is also considering a career as a television presenter, following her stint on the reality TV show, said the first she heard about her running for Fine Gael was when she read a report in the Irish Independent.

She thought it may have originated from a "few throwaway comments" after the "wrap" party for the reality TV show, but it had "gained momentum" subsequently and was now "like a runaway train".

"I did not talk to anyone," she said, but "I had to contact the press office" to find out about where the story originated.

She was a member of young Fine Gael while in college and had been approached by Fine Gael to run in local elections "but that was years ago".

Her parents live in Cavan and her family have supported Fine Gael, but she says "I'm more an independent head myself".

In Co Cavan there was much speculation about whether Ms McGonnell would run and if she had been approached, but there had been no official contact.

Fine Gael's Cavan county secretary, Mr Seán McKiernan, who is also a member of the party's national executive, said that her "name recognition" would be invaluable. The party would be interested but he added that there was seen to be a need for a rural-based candidate to join the sitting team of two councillors in the Cavan electoral ward, and "there are plenty of other candidates".