A former GAA manager has been selected by Fine Gael to contest the next general election in the Mayo constituency.
John O'Mahony (52), who twice steered Galway to All-Ireland senior football glory and Mayo to national under-21 success, will join party leader Enda Kenny, previous poll topper Michael Ring and Michelle Mulherin on what is seen as a strong ticket in the crucial five-seater.
More than 1,200 delegates endorsed the candidacy of Mr O'Mahony, Mr Kenny, Mr Ring and Ms Mulherin at the convention on Sunday. Ms Mulherin, a town councillor and member of the legal profession in Ballina, defeated Jarlath Munnelly in the contest for the final seat. Fine Gael is thought to have an excellent chance of winning a third seat in Mayo. Mr O'Mahony, a schoolteacher based in Ballaghaderreen, said he had watched with admiration the way Mr Kenny had revitalised the party and that had been a factor in his decision to seek a nomination. For Fine Gael to get into government it was crucial that the party win a third seat in Mayo and he would do his utmost to ensure that happened.
The biggest blow for decentralisation ever - the transfer of the Taoiseach from Dublin to Mayo would occur after the next election, Mr O'Mahony predicted to rapturous applause.
Following her nomination, Ms Mulherin said Ballina was suffering economically because of its lack of representation in the Dáil.
Mr Kenny said Fine Gael and Labour together can provide change.
Meanwhile, Terence Slowey, an election agent for former taoiseach John Bruton, is to contest the general election for Fine Gael in place of outgoing TD Dinny McGinley in Donegal South-West. Mr McGinley's surprise announcement last week that he was not running again after 24 years as a TD followed local polls predicting that he could lose his seat to Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty. Mr McGinley, his party's frontbench spokesman on community, rural and Gaeltacht affairs, said he was retiring from national politics to pass the torch to a new generation.
Mr Slowey won the nomination on Sunday night over rivals RTÉ sports broadcaster Barry O'Neill and farmer David Morrow.
The selection convention in Glenties was told a second candidate will be added to the ticket by party headquarters. Mr Slowey (54) is an environmental scientist. Donegal South-West is a three-seat constituency. The other two seats are held by Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan and Minister of State at the Department of Transport Pat "The Cope" Gallagher.