Fianna Fail has selected a 27 year old woman to contest the Donegal North East by election. A spokeswoman for the party said last night that it had chosen Ms Cecilia Keaveney, a music teacher from Moville, as its candidate. The selection convention in the Golden Grill, Letterkenny, was chaired by the chairman of the parliamentary party, Dr Rory O'Hanlon. Ms Keaveney defeated her nearest rival, Ms Gearodin McArthur, by a margin of three to one, according to the spokeswoman.
Ms Keaveney was co opted to Donegal County Council last year. Her father, Paddy, had held the same seat in 1976 for Independent Fianna Fail, the spokeswoman said.
The by election is expected in late April although a date has not been fixed. The seat was held by Neil Blaney, the Independent Fianna Fail TD, until his death last November.