Labour select Kelly for Ireland South constituency

The Labour Party tonight selected Senator Alan Kelly as its candidate for the Ireland South constituency in next year’s European Parliament elections.

The 33-year-old Tipperary North representative defeated Dublin North West TD Arthur J Spring, the nephew of former party leader and ex-Tanaiste Dick Spring.

The Portroe man won 276 votes to 31-year-old Mr Spring’s 144 at a selection convention in Cork.

He is currently the party’s tourism spokesman, Seanad spokesman on finance and a member of the Oireachtas Committee on European Scrutiny.

He was elected to the Seanad in 2007 at his first attempt.

In excess of 500 party members attended the convention in the Silver Springs Hotel.