Ferris plays down talk of Dáil run

KERRY Sinn Féin councillor Toireasa Ferris has played down suggestions that her co-option to Tralee Town Council earlier this week is another milestone on her road to Dáil Éireann.

Ms Ferris, 27, already a member of Kerry County Council, filled the Tralee seat formerly held by Maisie Houlihan who retired for health reasons.

Local observers believe Ms Ferris is well placed to succeed her father, Martin Ferris, as a future TD for Kerry North.

But, she said she had no ambitions to run for the Dáil and her first priority was to do her job as a councillor.

“I was selected for co-option by a unanimous decision of the Tralee cumann (SF), which means I’ve the total support of the cumann behind me,” she said.

Ms Ferris, who was Kerry mayor in 2005/’06, has been establishing a high profile over several years and was chief speaker at the annual Kilmichael ambush commemoration, in west Cork, last November.

Since Mr Ferris was first elected to Dáil Éireann, in 2002, Sinn Féin has been consolidating its position in the constituency.

The party has two representatives on Kerry County Council, two on Tralee Town Council and one on Listowel Town Council.

Martin Ferris, 56, first ran for election to the Dáil in 1997, but failed in that attempt. In 1999, he was elected to Kerry County Council and Tralee Town Council.

He created a sensation in 2002 when he won a Dáil seat in Kerry North at the expense of former tánaiste and Labour Party leader Dick Spring.

Mr Ferris is the Sinn Féin spokesman on agriculture and rural development and the marine and natural resources.