SINN FÉIN councillor Toiréasa Ferris has been elected chairwoman of the party’s Munster region at its annual general meeting.
The councillor, a former mayor of Tralee, polled strongly as the party’s Munster candidate in last year’s European elections.
Sinn Féin has cooled speculation that her election is a step towards running for the Dáil in North Kerry, to succeed her father Martin Ferris.
“If there was an election in the morning I’m sure Martin will be the candidate,” a spokesman said. “Toiréasa’s election is about developing the party in Munster rather than her own profile. The reaction on the ground to her as a candidate in the European elections was so good that we are in a position to make gains in Munster and other areas,” the spokesman said.
Ms Ferris told the meeting in Mallow last weekend that she was convinced that with improved communication with the public, the party could become a “very significant player” on the Irish political scene. “Sinn Féin is as relevant in 2010 as we were 100 years ago, with the banks evicting people from their homes now instead of the landlords back then.”
