Confirmations from Éamon Ó Cuív, the outgoing TD for Galway West, reveal that broadcaster Gráinne Seoige has shown interest in running for the Fianna Fáil in the forthcoming general election. Mr Ó Cúiv mentioned that Ms Seoige (50) reached out to party members in her constituency for support prior to the party’s convention for candidate selection.
The former presenter for RTÉ and Sky News relocated to South Africa in 2016 along with her spouse Leon Jordaan, where they started their own diamond business. The couple returned to Ireland in the past couple of years.
Ms Seoige, a native speaker from the Gaeltacht village of An Spidéal is believed to be a strong contender for the Connemara candidacy, following Mr Ó Cuív’s retirement after the general elections. However, he clarified he would not endorse any candidates in the Fianna Fáil nomination process, letting party members make the decision.
It seems that neither of the sitting councillors of the party in Connemara, Máirtín Lee or Gerry King, plan on running for election at this point. In light of Mr Ó Cuív’s strong influence in Connemara, it is probable that one candidate from this area and another from the city will represent the party.
When reached for comment, Ms Seoige declined to provide insights into her plans. As for the leading candidates from Galway City side of the constituency, Senator Ollie Crowe, and city councillors John Connolly and Eddie Cheevers appear to be the top contenders.
Ms Seoige is actively reaching out to the vast majority of the 500 members of the Galway West party, in order to gain their endorsement. She requires the backing of a mere five representatives or a single cumann to nominate her name for the convention, anticipated to occur early in September.
She was among the first raft of TV journalists to start on TG4 in 1996. Subsequently, Ms Seoige progressed, serving as a news anchor with TV3 and Sky News Ireland, and then transitioning to RTÉ, where she led her own afternoon programme, Seoige.
Post 2011, her presence as a presenter on RTÉ diminished. By 2017, due to a considerable decrease in income, she closed her TV production company and other media enterprises.
In 2015, KBC Bank initiated legal action to repossess a property Ms Seoige co-owned with her ex-husband, Stephen Cullinane, following their separation in 2010.
Ms Seoige’s fame alongside her proficiency in Gaeltacht and the Irish language may potentially aid her attempt to attain a party nomination, despite her absence of previous association with the party.