Martin is FG's election man

Martin Heydon was selected last night to contest the next General Election in Kildare South for Fine Gael.

The selection meeting was held at the Clanard Court Hotel in Athy and was attended by the FG Leader Enda Kenny.

Martin, a farmer, was elected to Kildare County Council earlier this year on his first attempt as a candidate for the party.

He has many connections with Kilcullen, and received his second level education at CPC.

Since his entry into local politics 12 months ago Martin has created quite an impression, achieving the highest vote of all Kildare South Fine Gael candidates in the June 2009 local elections when securing his seat in the Athy district with 1980 first preference votes.

At the convention he said that, given the current challenging times, people need and will demand a new brand of politics, 'new blood, new ideas, and an energy and vision to see this through'. "I am that type of politician," he said. "I have something to offer that is both fresh and new and I am ready for this challenge.”

He added that meeting most of the Kildare South members, as part of his canvass, had heightened his awareness of the real need and desire among members in Kildare South to return a Fine Gael TD for this constituency.

The convention, which was attended by over 300 people, heard Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny TD say he did not think it was beyond the bounds of possibility that Fine Gael could win an overall majority in the next general election. He added that gaining a seat in Kildare South will be instrumental in that goal and the members have placed their trust in Cllr Heydon to deliver.

Martin, for his part, promised to cover every inch of ground in the constituency in that aim and show the people of Kildare South that Fine Gael means business.