Creighton poaches Fianna Fáil councillor for byelection

Lucinda Creighton's new political party Renua Ireland is set to poach a Fianna Fáil councillor to run in the upcoming byelection in Carlow-Kilkenny.

Solicitor Patrick McKee, currently Leas-Cathoirleach of Kilkenny County Council, will be announced by Renua Ireland at an event today, according to sources.

Mr McKee, based in Kilkenny city, had expressed an interest in running for Fianna Fáil but did not contest the party's selection convention to fill the Dáil seat vacated when Phil Hogan became European Commissioner for Agriculture.

There have also been suggestions of tensions between Mr McKee and local Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness.

Fianna Fáil sources claimed Mr McKee had been canvassing in recent days for Bobby Aylward, the party's candidate. Mr McKee did not return calls to The Irish Times.

Mr Aylward (59), a rural-Kilkenny based farmer, served as TD in the last Dáil but lost his seat in the 2011 general election and is seen as the early byelection frontrunner.

Fine Gael is running Kilkenny councillor David Fitzgerald, while the Sinn Féin candidate will be Kathleen Funchion, also a councillor in Kilkenny.