With county council elections taking place next May, the political parties are already moving ahead with their local preparations.
The first task is to select the candidates.
The Fine Gael convention to select the party’s north Leitrim candidates will take place on January 18th in the Bee Park in Manorhamilton.
It’s expected outgoing councillors Sean McDermott and Frank Dolan will seek re-election.
There’s also been speculation that former councillor Siobhan McGloin from Kinlough may run again.
Meanwhile, it’s expected a date for conventions to select the Fine Gael candidates in north Sligo will be decided tonight.
That area includes two electoral areas, Sligo/Drumcliffe and Sligo/Strandhill.
The Fine Gael selection convention for the Ballymote/Tubbercurry/West Sligo area will be held on January 18th in the Castledargan Hotel, in Ballygawley.
The Fine Gael selection convention for the Donegal Municipal District is expected to take place in mid-January.
It’s understood that outgoing councillor Barry O Neill will be among those seeking a nomination.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail has chosen two outgoing councillors in North Leitrim to run again.
They are Mary Bohan from Drumkeerin and Justin Warnock from Kinlough.
However, it’s thought a third person may be added later to the ticket as there is no Fianna Fail candidate based in Manorhamilton, the main town in north Leitrim.
