Former Fine Gael councillor Mickey Doherty has been chosen at a Fine Gael Selection Convention to be co-opted on to Donegal County Council to represent the people of Inishowen.
Mr Doherty, who was elected to the local authority as a councillor for the first time in 2009 and represented the Inishowen electoral area for five years, was chosen by party colleagues replace John Ryan.
Mr Ryan announced in May his decision to step down as a councillor.
The Fine Gael Selection Convention in the Strand Hotel in Ballyliffin was attended by Fine Gael TD for Donegal Joe McHugh and also heard Michelle McKenna from Buncrana announce her intention to contest the 2019 local elections for Fine Gael.
Mr McHugh spoke at the convention to congratulate Mickey Doherty and Michelle McKenna and also used the convention as an opportunity to put on record the work of the Fine Gael Government.
“Mickey and Michelle deserve huge respect and gratitude for having the courage to put their names forward to stand in an election,” Mr McHugh said.
“Anyone who knows Mickey Doherty knows that despite unsuccessfully running in the 2014 local elections that he kept his private office open to the public and that he continued to make himself available to the people of Inishowen over the last four years.
“I was also impressed by Michelle McKenna’s contribution at the selection convention. She gave a very powerful speech and signalled that she will be contesting next year’s local election.
“Michelle has a strong record in community service and has been a party activist for a long number of years playing key roles in campaigns both in my election and work on behalf of John Ryan.
“I am keen to see Michelle put her name and to stand for Fine Gael alongside Mickey Doherty next year in the new four seat constituency that is being created in Inishowen.
Mr McHugh, Government Chief Whip and Minister for the Irish language, the Islands and the Gaeltacht, used the Selection Convention to put on record the significant commitment by the Fine Gael Government to Inishowen over the past 12 months.
“There are a long list of achievements and investments and work for the people of Donegal that we as a party should be proud of,” Mr McHugh said.
“And I will continue to stand and fight for what is right for the people of Donegal.
“The examples are there to be seen. Some of us are fortunate enough to use them everyday like the recently completed €3million euro Cockhill Bridge, the €10million invested in roads and bridges following the floods in Inishowen last August, flood defences in several areas including €1.5million secured for Burnfoot and the expansion of Greenways.
“We got the green light for a new Gael Scoil in Moville with more than €1million investment as well as other significant investment and supports for primary and secondary schools and increasing Sports Capital funding such as €120,000 for Carndonagh CLG and the substantial backing for the Irish Open.”
McHugh added: “All these achievements are well and good but there are many other issues I am consistently pressing across Government to be resolved, not least the funding crisis at ICARE, the repairs for Mica affected homes, the stalled development of Greencastle Harbour and improving sports infrastructure.
“I will continue to work closely with Councillor Bernard McGuinness and also Mickey Doherty to see these projects to fruition.
“I would also like to pay personal tribute to John Ryan and his family for a near decade of public service in Co Donegal.”
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