FG select Slowey for Donegal South West

Fine Gael councillor Terence Slowey was tonight selected to stand for the party in the next General Election in Donegal South West.

At a convention attended by 500 party delegates from the county, Mr Slowey beat off stiff competition from three other councillors.

He will take the place of long-standing front-bench TD Benny McGinley, who announced last week that he would be standing aside after 25 years serving the constituency.

Mr Slowey, who was first elected in 2004, said he was delighted to be chosen and confident of taking a seat at the polls.

“We have never failed to receive less than our full quota in the constituency, and we feel that the mood of change that is sweeping the country is felt likewise in Donegal South West,” he said.

The party will select the second candidate for the constituency in the autumn.

Mr Slowey, a vocal councillor from Glenties defeated three others, Barry O’Neill and Brendan Travers from Ballyshannon and David Morrow from Donegal Town.