Joe Flaherty took victory in the Fianna Fail convention tonight by a landslide 220 votes out of a total of 356 cast.
Connie Gerety took 87 of the votes, and sitting councillor Seamus Butler took 49.
Registration and voting opened at half past six in the Longford Arms this evening to facilitate many people who had other engagements on the Friday evening and a smaller crowd than might have been anticipated stayed on in the ballroom of the Longford Arms to hear the final result shortly after nine o’ clock.
Speaking after the result was announced both Seamus Butler and Connie Gerety pledged their support to the new candidate.
Joe Flaherty spoke of the neglect of the county for the past six years, and said he would work to his best ability to bring back a seat in the Dail for the county and for Fianna Fail in the next election.
He told Shannonside FM News after the convention tonight that he was delighted with having been chosen for the job of winning back a Longford FF seat.
