Fine Gael gets an Olympian addition

Former Olympian Eamonn Coghlan has joined Fine Gael and could be in the running for a Dáil seat in the next general election.

The senator and former world champion said he had approached FG about becoming a member.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny unveiled his party’s latest recruit, bringing to 99 the number of parliamentary party FG members.

Mr Coghlan will have to give up his annual Independent senator’s allowance of €23,000 by becoming a party member.

The three-time Olympian said he had followed FG’s movements over the past nine months. He was originally nominated as a senator by Mr Kenny last May.

“Having listened to many debates, I now wish to walk and ultimately run on that path towards re-establishing a bright and positive future for all of the people,” he said.

He said no decision had been made on whether he would run in the next election.

Mr Kenny said: “Eamonn made his mark as a world champion athlete and helped raise the spirits of the Irish people over the course of a fantastic career.

“Since his retirement, he has continued to show the energy and commitment that personifies him, raising funds for the children’s medical research foundation, and impacting hugely on the lives of many people.”

The move comes ahead of the Taoiseach attending a charity fundraiser being hosted by Mr Coghlan in New York next week.

The gala dinner event is to raise funds for Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital.

The senator is a director of fundraising for research at the hospital.

In the Seanad, he has focused on promoting physical fitness and combating rising obesity levels in school-age children.

He was world 5,000m champion in 1983 and is the only person to have ever run a sub-four minute mile at the age of 40 or older.

The 59-year-old lives in Castleknock, Dublin West, the home constituency of Fine Gael member and Transport Minister Leo Varadkar. However, Mr Coghlan could also garner strong support from Drimnagh, in Dublin South Central, where he grew up, if he were to run for a seat.

Mr Coghlan said: “I just like what I see and I decided if I am going to be serious from here on, I think I had better do it with the Fine Gael party.”