Ballyshannon battle for Fine Gael candidacy

Two Ballyshannon natives will be going head-to-head in a three-way battle to become the Fine Gael candidate in the Donegal South West by-election.

Both Donegal County Councillor Barry O’Neill and Ballyshannon Town Councillor Brendan Travers, along with Ballybofey-based Cllr Martin Harley have been confirmed as the three candidates nominated ahead of the party’s selection convention next week.

The deadline for nominations was at 5pm on Friday.

The Fine Gael convention is being held in Glenties next Monday, and will see the latest addition to the three candidates already confirmed for the by-election prompted by the departure of Pat The Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament.

Independents Cllr Thomas Pringle and local election candidate Tom Conaghan have said they will be running.

Labour county councillor Frank McBrearty was confirmed at a party convention last Friday night.

The Government has yet to set a date for the by-election.