Kelly to make European elections bid

Former GAA president Sean Kelly will today make his official bid to run for Fine Gael in next year’s European elections.

Mr Kelly will meet party leader Enda Kenny to inform him of his intention to seek a nomination as a candidate for Ireland south (Munster).

The move has ended months of speculation surrounding the political future of the Kerry man, who attended the Fine Gael party conference over the weekend.

He is related to Mr Kenny’s wife Fionnuala and unsuccessfully contested the local elections for the party in Kerry in 1991,

Mr Kelly’s bid is backed by Kerry TDs Tom Sheahan and Jimmy Deenihan, who encouraged the former GAA man to seek the nomination and who will support him at Leinster House today.

The ex-GAA president made history within the organisation when he spearheaded the campaign to abolish the GAA’s controversial Rule 42.

The move paved the way for soccer and rugby to be played in Croke Park.

After he stood down from the prestigious position in 2006, Mr Kelly was appointed executive chairman of the Irish Institute of Sport – a body that was set up to support elite athletes and players.

He resigned from that post in July.