Kerry Fine Gael councillor Tom Sheahan yesterday announced that he would be seeking a nomination to contest the next general election in Kerry South.
The 37-year-old Rathmore-based businessman, with strong family links in Glenbeigh, mid-Kerry, and in Killarney, yesterday became the first person formally to declare his intention to seek the Fine Gael nomination in the constituency.
Fine Gael party headquarters has not yet decided on the number of candidates it will run in the constituency, a spokeswoman said.
The Kerry South convention is to take place after Christmas.
It is likely that the party's two other sitting county councillors - Johnny O'Connor in Killorglin and Séamus "Cosaí" Fitzgerald in the Dingle area - will also seek to be on the ticket.
Local party sources say a decision to run three candidates is unlikely, while to run two candidates would suit sitting Labour TD Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, who could expect strong transfers from an eliminated Fine Gael candidate.
Fine Gael lost its seat in 1989.
The three Dáil seats are currently held by Ms Moynihan-Cronin, Fianna Fáil's John O'Donoghue and Independent Jackie Healy-Rae.
Speculation has centred on whether Fine Gael headquarters will seek to impose a high-profile candidate in the constituency, such as president of the GAA Sean Kelly.