Martin Daly wins Roscommon-Galway Fianna Fáil convention by eight votes

It was a close race at the Roscommon/Galway Fianna Fáil convention yesterday, with well-known Ballygar GP, Dr Martin Daly pipping former TD and current Senator, Eugene Murphy,  to the post by just eight votes.

However, several local delegates called after the convention for Senator Murphy to be added to the ticket.

Fianna Fáil had directed that only one candidate be chosen for the constituency at the convention, but the option remains for Fianna Fáil nationally to add a seat.

Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin told Shannonside FM this morning that the option to add Senator Murphy would be assessed by the constituency committee.

He added that Dr Daly has “widespread recognition across the area” and “is a very highly qualified candidate”.

Senator Murphy held a Dáil seat for the party from 2016 to 2020, before losing his seat to Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane in February's 2020 election. He was elected to the Seanad in April 2020 as a candidate on the Agricultural Panel.

The race for the Fianna Fáil nomination for the upcoming general election was down to two after Councillor John Keogh dropped out just before the convention.

Following the announcement of his decision to drop out of the race, Keogh backed Dr Daly for the nomination, noting his service to his constituency as a key factor in the choice.

Dr Daly has worked with the Roscommon football team for almost three decades and has patients on both sides of the Roscommon/Galway border.