The Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District will launch her bid to enter Dáíl Eireann in the upcoming general election.
Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan has been selected as the party’s sole candidate in the Clare constituency following an uncontested internal convention held at the Cloughleigh Community Centre.
Following a recent rule change introduced by party Headquarters, aspiring Sinn Féín candidates must secure a nomination from a constituency cumann followed by a second nomination from an executive body before contesting a general election convention.
As there is currently no Comhairle Ceantair in Clare for Sinn Féín, the second nomination must come from either the Munster Cuige, the National Officer Board or the Ard Comhairle.
Despite receiving over 4,000 first preference votes as Sinn Féín’s Clare candidate in 2016 and receiving the backing of the North and East Clare Cummain’s this time round, Ballyvaughan native Noeleen Moran did not obtain a second nomination.
Although the chairpersons of both East and North Clare Sinn Féin presented their concerns for an uncontested convention to party leader Mary Lou McDonald, the selection process went ahead at the Cloughleigh Community Centre.
Having received two valid nominations , Shannon Councillor and current Cathaoirleach of the Municipal District, Donna McGettigan was formally ratified as the party’s next Dáil Eireann candidate in Clare.
Clare is a female designated constituency for Sinn Féín, and Donna McGettigan is now set to become the fourth woman to run for the Dáíl here under the Sinn Fein banner following in the footsteps of Anna Prior in 2007, Noeleen Moran in 2016 and Violet Anne Wynne in 2020.