A long standing local politician is to seek the Fine Gael nomination for Tipperary North in the upcoming General Election.
Ballina based Councillor Phyll Bugler will have her name in the hat at the party’s selection convention in Templemore on September 13th.
Mayor of Clonmel Michael Murphy has already been selected to stand for Fine Gael in Tipperary South.
Councillor Bugler says she has a wealth of not just political experience to offer at a national level.
“I’ve fought five elections at local level and I’ve worked in industry with De Beers Industrial Diamonds both in Ireland and South Africa as a liaison engineer. I’ve been involved in tourism I suppose for nearly 30 years having run a restaurant and a pub in on the Clare side and then been involved in the accommodation sector here on the Ballina side for over 20 years.
“Then the other area I suppose is a farming background – I come from a farm in Clonmore, Templemore.
Councillor Bugler says Fine Gael’s decision to field two candidates from South Tipp in the last General Election was a mistake.
Garret Ahearn and Mary Newman Julian were on the ballot paper in 2020 when Tipp was a single 6-seat constituency.
This time around its back to two 3-seaters – Tipperary North and South.
Phyll Bugler says it’s important to have a familiar name to vote for.
“I’d say the electorate felt they needed a candidate in the north of the county. Someone that they knew and someone who had been around for a while. Someone dependable and they knew was a recognisable face and that they could go to if there was a problem.
“They probably felt that the candidates – who were both south based – were too far away from Nenagh and the towns of Templemore and Roscrea. Just that little bit too far away.”
