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05 Dec 2025
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05 Dec 2025
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Cllrs Claire Murray, Tony McCormack, Peter Ormond and Eddie Fitzpatrick
'The strategic decision to select Cllr Murray reflects a desire to achieve a geographical and gender balance in a competitive field which includes two outgoing female members of the Oireachtas and a female councillor.'
THE Fianna Fail party in Offaly has released a statement following what it calls Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick's “disappointing” decision to seek a seat in the Dail as an Independent candidate.
The statement from the Offaly Fianna Fail Comhairle Dail Ceantair (constituency council) noted that at the recent selection convention Cllr Tony McCormack (Tullamore) was selected as the
party candidate for the forthcoming general election.
“Subsequently the party took a strategic decision to field a second candidate and interviewed the defeated convention candidates, Cllr Peter Ormond and Cllr Fitzpatrick along with Cllr Claire Murray,” the statement said.
“All three understood that only one additional candidate could be selected.
“Cllr Murray was selected having regard to her geographical base, her skillset and experience as a community activist and in the context of the party’s commitment to achieving greater participation of women in politics.
“The strategic decision to select Cllr Murray reflects a desire to achieve a geographical and gender balance in a competitive field which includes two outgoing female members of the Oireachtas and a female councillor.
“It is no reflection on the unsuccessful applicants.
“Cllr Fitzpatrick, like Cllr Ormond, has been a valued member of Offaly County Council.
“It would be unfortunate if Cllr Fitzpatrick’s candidacy as an independent were to split the vote in North Offaly and deprive the area of the chance to return a TD.
“Cllr Murray is well placed to take a second seat for Fianna Fáil, aimed at returning the party to government.”
The two outgoing female members of the Oireachtas who will be on the ballot paper in the election are sitting TD Carol Nolan, Independent and formerly Sinn Fein, and the Green Party Senator and Minister of State Pippa Hackett, who ran for the Dail in 2020 but did not win a seat.
The female councillor referred to by Fianna Fail is Cllr Aoife Masterson, Tullamore, who won a seat on Offaly County Council for Sinn Fein for the first time this summer and is now the party's general election candidate in the county.
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