FF select candidates for North Kerry

The TD Thomas McEllistrim along with Norma Foley, the daughter of former TD Denis Foley, have been selected to contest the next…

The TD Thomas McEllistrim along with Norma Foley, the daughter of former TD Denis Foley, have been selected to contest the next general election for Fianna Fáil in the three-seater Kerry North constituency.

Their selection reignites an old political rivalry and also raises worries about the geographical spread of the candidates.

Both nominees are in their mid-30s, both are teachers by profession and both are from the same electoral area of Tralee.

Ms Foley lives in Tralee town, is a town and county councillor while Mr McEllistrim lives in the Castleisland side. Mr McEllistrim is the third generation of his family to hold a Dáil seat. His late father Tom was a strong supporter of Charles Haughey.

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Denis Foley retired at the last general election, having resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party in 2000 when it was revealed he held an Ansbacher account.

They defeated two candidates from the Listowel electoral area in the north of constituency, Cllr John Brassil, the favourite to win the nomination and heavily backed by Fianna Fáil headquarters, and Cllr Ned O'Sullivan, former mayor of Kerry.