Cowen on Fianna Fail ticket in Laois/Offaly

OFFALY County Councillor Barry Cowen has been selected to run for Fianna Fail in the upcoming General Election in the Laois/Offaly constituency.

Mr Cowen was chosen to run at the selection convention in the Tullamore Court Hotel on Tuesday evening.

He will be joined on the ticket by the two sitting Laois based TDs Sean Fleming and John Moloney.

Mr Cowen is the only candidate being put forward by Fianna Fail in Offaly.

He held off the challenge of fellow county councillor Peter Ormond at the selection convention by 92 votes to 62.

Early in the day another Fianna Fail councillor, John Foley, announced that he would run as an independent in the election. Mr Foley was Brian Cowen's running mate in Offaly at the last election.

Meanwhile Edenderry Town Councillor Fergus McDonnell also announced that he will contest the election as an independent.