Heydon, McLoughlin Healy, to contest Kildare South

Deputy Martin Heydon and Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy will be contesting the next General Election in Kildare South on behalf of Fine Gael, writes Brian Byrne.

Deputy Heydon was one of four candidates who contested the selection convention in Hotel Keadeen on Tuesday night, including Cllr McLoughlin Healy, Cllr Mark Stafford and Ian Hennessy. The meeting was chaired by Deputy John Paul Phelan from Carlow/Kilkenny.

Deputy Heydon was proposed on the night by former party leader Alan Dukes and seconded by Athy member and local business woman Jo Coyle after being nominated by members from all Fine Gael branches in Kildare South. A Directive from Fine Gael HQ read out on the night stipulated that two candidates be selected, one of which was to be female.

Martin Heydon has many local connections, including being a past pupil of CPC. Fiona McLoughlin Healy is married to Kilcullen man Bernard Healy and was elected to Kildare County Council at the last local elections.