Fine Gael headquarters has added sitting councillor Pat O’Neill to the party’s list of candidates to contest the forthcoming local elections in the Thomastown electoral area.
Councillor O’Neill joins Willie Barron of Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown’s Joey O’Hanrahan who were chosen at the party’s local convention in November.
The redrawing of electoral boundaries, which resulted in a part of Councillor O’Neill’s support base moving to the Ballyragget electoral area, saw the Bennettsbridge man losing out narrowly at the parties selection convention.
Fine Gael will be hoping that Councillor O’Neill, who holds the only Fine Gael seat in the Thomastown area, will regain his seat and be joined on the council by either Barron or O’ Hanrahan.
However, having lost key support to the Ballyragget electoral area, the Bennettsbridge man may find himself under pressure to retain his seat.
“I am delighted to accept the invitation from the party to join my two colleagues, Willie Barron and Joey O’ Hanrahan in an effort to win two seats for the party,” said Councillor O’Neill.
“I know I will be under severe pressure to regain my seat with the loss of many of my voters to the Ballyragget area. However, I hope the hard work I have put in on behalf of the entire Thomastown area over the last five years will reap it’s rewards and see me pass the line on June 5.
“I have worked hard over the past five years to ensuring that the voice of the people of the Thomastown electoral area is heard and acted upon at Kilkenny County Council level.”
