FINE GAEL press officer Feargal Purcell is to become the Government press secretary but will not take up the post until later in the year.
The current Government press secretary, Eoghan Ó Neachtain, has been asked by the incoming Government to stay on in his post for a transition period, expected to be about three months. The Labour Party has not yet nominated someone to the post of assistant Government press secretary. The party’s long-time press spokesman, Tony Heffernan, is due to take early retirement shortly.
From Ballycallan in Co Kilkenny, Mr Purcell is a former Army commandant and worked for three years in the Defence Forces press office. He served three tours of duty in Lebanon and once in Bosnia. He also studied English and history in NUI Galway and communications in DCU. He joined Fine Gael as deputy press office in 2008 after 18 years in the Army. Mr Ó Neachtain, who served under Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, is also a former member of the Defence Forces. From the Connemara Gaeltacht, he was public affairs manager with the ESB, and Defence Forces press and public relations officer.
