Two candidates seek Fianna Fáil vacancy on Sligo County Council

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

Fianna Fáil will select a a replacement for Tom MacSharry County Council’s seat at a selection gathering in The Sligo Park Hotel on Monday night, May 5th.

Some 40 delegates will meet to select from two candidates for co-option on to Sligo County Council to fill the vacancy created by Mr MacSharry’s elevation to a Judge of the District Court.

There are two candidates seeking to be selected former Councillor Seamus Kilgannon and local businessman Finbarr Filan who has recently joined the party.

Mr Kilgannon is seeking a return to local politics having twice been Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, in 2007 and 2017.

Mr Kilgannon was twice previously co-opted onto Sligo County Council. He was re-elected in 2004 and became chairman in 2007. He lost his seat at the local elections in June 2009 but was elected in 2014. Mr Kilgannon has a long track record in the Credit Union movement both locally and nationally.

Mr Filan was an unsuccessful candidate in the 2019 local elections when he ran in the Sligo-Strandhill electoral area while in 2024 he contested the election as an independent candidate. mr Filan also contested the 2016 general election for the now defunct Renua party.

Mr Filan is propietor of Filan’s Centra on Castle St and is a board member of Sligo BID as well as being Chairperson of ISME, Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association.

Tonight’s convention is due to commence at 8pm with approximately 40 delegates entitled to votes to choose who will succeed Mr MacSharry. Both candidates will be afforded the opportunity to deliver a short address before voting takes place with 50% plus one required to secure victory.

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.