Fianna Fáil hopeful launches General Election convention campaign in Tipperary

The Fianna Fáil County Councillor for the Nenagh - Borrisokane - Lower Ormond area of Tipperary County Council, Cllr Ryan O'Meara has launched his campaign to contest next weekend's North Tipperary / Northwest Kilkenny Fianna Fáil selection convention.

The 29 year-old County Councillor was elected to Tipperary County Council last June on his first attempt, regaining a seat for Fianna Fáil in the area after a ten year absence. Cllr O'Meara has worked as Deputy Jackie Cahill's Parliamentary Assistant for the last four years.

Speaking at his campaign launch in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh last night, Cllr O'Meara said: "I am delighted to be launching my campaign tonight to contest next weekend's selection convention. I have spent the last week canvassing Fianna Fáil members right across North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny and I will continue to do so until I speak to each and every member in advance of next weekend's decision by our membership.

"I want to be a new, fresh, young, and unapologetically ambitious voice for what we can collectively achieve for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, together in Dáil Éireann. It is time for a new generation of politicians in our area. I want to lead the charge in delivering the unwavering and dedicated public service from our politicians that we all deserve."

Cllr O'Meara stated that priorities for him, if selected by the local party membership next weekend and elected to the Dáil would be housing, health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, rural and urban development, disability and carers rights, and quality of life for all ages.

Concluding, Cllr O'Meara said: "My slogan during last June's local elections was: 'Ag obair i dtreo ár dtodhchaí'. 'Working towards our future' is just as relevant in this General Election as it was last June, and I want to be a progressive, new voice in Dáil Éireann for our party and for the people of North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny."

Guest speakers on the night included Deputy Jackie Cahill TD, Cllr Kay Cahill Skehan (Thurles), James O'Connor TD (Cork East), as well as former Tipperary County Councillors, Mattie Ryan Coole (Curreeny), Jim Casey (Cloughjordan), John Sheehy (Ballina), and Tom Harrington (Nenagh).

Messages of support on the night were received from former Fianna Fáil TD for North Tipperary, Máire Hoctor; and Cllr Michael McCarthy, Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council and Fianna Fáil County Councillor in the Castlecomer Local Electoral Area.

Apologies and words of support were also received on the night from former Thurles County Councillor Seamus Hanafin, and the Chairperson of the Eamon & Sinead De Valera Cumann, Thurles Denis O'Connell.