Candidate pulls out of Laois Offaly at General Election race

There is one less Fine Gael candidate in the reunited Laois Offaly constituency as the party tries to shore up the vote to retain two seats in the midland counties.

Following discussions with senior members of the Fine Gael party in recent weeks, Cllr John Clendennen has announced the decision to withdraw his name from contesting the forthcoming General Election.

"It has become clear to me that the best strategy is for two Fine Gael candidates in Laois/Offaly constituency. Therefore, I have taken the decision to sacrifice my own aspirations in a bid to ensure two seats for Fine Gael in the next General Election," Cllr Clendennen said in a statement on Thursday. 

"I am fully committed to my role on Offaly County Council and will continue to seek progress on projects I have worked tirelessly to advance.

"These include the Slieve Bloom Mountain Bike Trails, investment and development of local infrastructure, tourism promotion, supports for small and medium-sized enterprises, community involvement and engagement, and establishing Offaly and the region as a great place to live, work, visit and invest. 

"My dedication to Offaly remains with the objective of achieving further growth in visitor numbers to the area, realising greater opportunity in the tourism sector and further job creation," the councillor first elected in 2014 added. 

"My father Percy and I have been privileged to receive the support of Fine Gael members and the people of the Birr Electoral Area, in so many different ways, for almost fifty years.

"I will continue working for Offaly and would like to reassure my supporters wholeheartedly that my desire to be elected to Dáil Éireann remains unequivocal.

"But at this moment, my commitment lies with maintaining our current two seats in the constituency. 

"I want to conclude by expressing my sincere gratitude to my family and everyone at both a local and national level, that have provided advice, encouragement, friendship and support throughout my time to date in politics, which I hope will continue long into the future," concluded the Offaly County Councillor said.

Three candidates were chosen at last year's selection convention for Laois-Offaly with Mr Clendennen included alongside sitting Minister for Justice and Laois TD Charlie Flanagan and Offaly TD Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

Laois Offaly will be reunited at the next General Election but also be reduced to a five-seat constituency. There were two three seat constituencies in 2016.

The other sitting TDs are Barry Cowen and Sean Fleming of Fianna Fáil, Brian Stanley of Sinn Féin and Carol Nolan, Independent.