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07 Dec 2025
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07 Dec 2025
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Roscrea's Michael Smith topped the poll in the local election
One of the three seats in North Tipperary is up for grabs in the 2024 General Election after Fianna Fáil's Jackie Cahill stepped down and a consistent local election poll topper from Roscrea has announced he intends to fill it.
Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Smith secured the highest first preference percentage vote in the entire county of Tipperary in the summer local election, which was 29%, for the third successive local election for a seat on Tipperary County Council and he has now set his sights on the Dáil - following in the footsteps of his father, Michael Smith Snr., the former Minister for Defence.
Currently the Cathaoirleach of the Thurles/Roscrea/Templemore Municipal Council, Cllr Smith first won a seat on North Tipperary County Council 20 years ago and has been re-elected in every local election he has contested since then, topping the poll in 2009, 2014, 2019 and again in the June 2024 local elections.
Fianna Fáil will hold their selection convention this weekend and Cloughjordan's Ryan O'Meara, a new Councillor who was elected in the Nenagh Municipal Area in June, launched his bid to win the nomination over the weekend - gaining the support of outgoing TD, Jackie Cahill, several Councillors in Tipperary and the three Fianna Fáil Councillors in the Castlecomer electoral area beforehand.
The West Kilkenny area will vote in the North Tipperary constituency in this election and could play an interesting role in how candidates perform.
Speaking to the Midland Tribune on Tuesday night (Oct 29), Councillor Smith sounded confident ahead of the selection convention.
"Now that the nomination process has commenced, I am officially declaring my candidacy for Fianna Fáil in the upcoming General Election. Having consulted widely with family, friends and loyal supporters I believe that I can win a seat for our party", he said in a brief statement.
"I have worked diligently as a Councillor for Tipperary for the last 20 years.
"I have a proven track record of hard work, dedication and commitment to the people. It would be my great privilege to ask the people of North Tipperary and West Kilkenny to support my candidacy for TD in the upcoming election," Cllr. Smith said.
Michael Smith is hoisted above the crowd in the Thurles count centre in June and he is hoping to repeat the success in November
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