Education Minister Norma Foley has successfully thwarted a bid from two popular councillors for the Fianna Fáil nomination in the Kerry constituency. On Thursday evening, she triumphed by securing 282 out of 367 votes in the selection convention.
Councillors Michael Sheehy and Michael Cahill both presented a significant challenge, having topped polls in their respective local elections in June. Mr. Sheehy, who is the current Mayor of Tralee and the son of Mikey Sheehy, a Kerry football icon, was also a nominee.
Ms. Foley, also based in Tralee, first won her Dáil seat in 2020. Being appointed Education Minister by party leader Micheál Martin in the Coalition government, she was part of a small faction given high-ranking ministerial posts during their inaugural Dáil term.
In the previous election, her colleague in the election was Councillor Norma Moriarty, based in Waterville. The party is allegedly enthusiastic about having a candidate in South Kerry, more specifically Killarney or Kenmare. Councillor Cahill resides in Rossbeigh, closely located to Glenbeigh on the Iveragh Peninsula.
According to the party’s national constituencies committee, they should limit the selection to single candidate in the convention. However, a second contender is anticipated to join the race prior to the general elections. The geographical closeness between Sheehy and Foley may put the former at a disadvantage in this five-seat constituency. Independent TDs Michael Healy Rae and Danny Healy Rae; Sinn Féin’s Pa Daly and Fine Gael’s Brendan Griffin, who plans to retire after the forthcoming general election, are the other incumbent TDs.