Mulherin steps out and Rouse steps in for Fine Gael in Ballina

Former TD and Senator Michelle Mulherin will not seek the Fine Gael nomination for the 2024 local elections in the Ballina Municipal District. The party will instead be represented in Ballina town by local businessman Hugh Rouse.

There had been speculation that Ms Mulherin would use the local elections as the launchpad for another tilt at the Dáil, but she has made it clear to the Fine Gael Strategy Committee in Mayo that she will not be contesting the local elections. 

Constituency chairman Jim Higgins said: "I am genuinely sorry that Michelle has decided that now is not the time for her to return to representative politics. Nothing I can say would do justice to Michelle's enormous commitment and contribution to the political sphere at local and national level. I have no doubt that if her name was on the ballot paper she would certainly be elected again."

Ms Mulherin was first elected to Ballina Town Council in 1999 and Mayo County Council in 2004 before securing a seat in Dáil Éireann in 2011. However, she was narrowly defeated in 2016 when Mayo changed from a five-seat to a four-seat constituency and was instead elected to the Seanad. She attempted to regain her seat in 2020 but lost out to party colleague Alan Dillon. 

Mr Higgins said the disappointment at Ms Mulherin's decision was eased somewhat by the decision of Hugh Rouse to put his name forward. 

“Fine Gael is very fortunate to have a candidate of the calibre of Hugh Rouse. Apart from Hugh's hands-on engagement in a variety of community activities, he comes from a family steeped in the commercial, sporting and cultural life of Ballina. He is a former president of Ballina Chamber of Commerce, Ballina Salmon Festival, and a member of Mayo Co Council Policy Committee for enterprise and marine strategic policy.

“I believe that together with high-profile outgoing councillors John O'Hara and Jarlath Munnelly, Hugh has every chance of winning a third seat for the party, said Mr Higgins.