Fianna Fàil have added Rita McInerney and Cathal Crowe to the party’s ticket for the next General Election.
The Doonbeg businesswoman and the Meelick Councillor have been selected to run alongside sitting TD Timmy Dooley, in a decision announced by the party’s National Constituencies Committee this evening.
They have both been selected in the wake of the decision of Dr John Hillery to withdraw from the race for personal reasons.
The duo now enter an increasingly crowded General Election field here in Clare.
Junior Minister Pat Breen, Deputy Joe Carey and Senator Martin Conway will run for Fine Gael; Sinn Fein have selected Councillor Mike McKee and 2016 candidate Noeleen Moran, and Independent Deputy Micháel Harty will look to defend his seat.
Former TD Michael McNamara has also previously indicated that he will run, but said this would either be as part of the Labour ticket or as an Independent.