Selected... Johnny Guirke

Guirke to contest next general election for Sinn Fein

Johnny Guirke will contest the next general election for Sinn Fein in Meath West after he was selected unopposed at the party's convention held in the Newgrange Hotel in Navan this evening.

At what must have been one of the shortest selection conventions in recent history - just 18 minutes, over 100 members of the party were present to congratulate Mr Guirke who was elected to Kells Municipal District and Meath Co Council at the last local elections with 1,678 votes earlier this year.

Among the delegates present were SF cllrs Darren O'Rourke and Eddie Fennessy. He was proposed by John Reilly and seconded by former Navan cllr Sinead Burke.

However one very notable absentee was was Sinn Fein party finance spokesperson Peearse Doherty who was due to be guest speaker but failed to make it to Navan after being one of a number of TDs blocked inside Leinster House this evening because of climate change protests.

Speaking after his selection Mr Guirke said he had let his name go forward for a number of reasons and that he "knew he could do a lot better than what's there already".

In a tweet he later said: "Tonight at the Convention I was selected to be the Sinn  Fein Election Candidate for Meath West #GE2020.. I will continue to work night and day for my constituents and hope you will support me."

The Oldcastle man will now be looking to target the seat won at the last general election by former Sinn Fein TD and now Aontu party leader Peader Toibin.