FORMER FIANNA Fáil senator Pascal Mooney and a son of former minister Michael Smith are among the candidates in the Seanad byelection caused by the death of senator Peter Callanan.
Nominations closed yesterday for the contest on January 19th to replace the late Fianna Fáil senator from Innishannon, Co Cork, who died in October.
TDs and senators are entitled to vote for the eight candidates who have been nominated for the vacancy on the Seanad’s agricultural panel.
Mr Mooney, from Drumshambo in Co Leitrim, who contested the European elections unsuccessfully in June, and Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smith jnr, from Roscrea in Co Tipperary, are candidates.
Fianna Fáil councillors John Brassil, from Ballyheigue in Co Kerry, Alan Coleman from Belgooly in Co Cork and Frank O’Flynn from Glanworth in Co Cork are also contesting.
Also nominated are Fine Gael councillors Thomas Barry from Mallow in Co Cork and John O’Sullivan from Bandon in Co Cork, as well as Michael Comiskey from Co Leitrim who contested the Dáil and Seanad elections for Fine Gael in 2007.
Meanwhile, the Green Party’s former mayor of Galway Niall Ó Brolcháin looks set to fill the Seanad vacancy caused by the election of Labour’s Alan Kelly to the European Parliament in June.
The result is expected on Monday.
Labour TD Jan O’Sullivan has nominated James Heffernan, a national teacher, bloodstock owner and breeder, from Kilfinane, Co Limerick, for the same position.
Fine Gael TD Michael Creed has nominated Monaghan county councillor Owen Bannigan, who is a farmer from Castleblayney.
