In a surprise move the party added two more names to the ticket – Councillors Siobhán Ambrose and Michael Smith
They will run alongside Jackie Cahill when the country goes to the polls
At the end of May former ICMSA president and first time councillor Jackie Cahill was selected to run for Tipp Fianna Fáil – seeing off his nearest competitor and fellow councillor Michael Smith by over 70 votes.
In some quarters, Councillor Smith- son of the former Defence Minister – had been seen as the heir apparent to help Fianna Fail's recovery from their 2011 wipe-out and his failure to succeed at selection convention posed a problem
There was widespread speculation that the party would then add a second candidate -probably a South Tipp female representative like Siobhan Ambrose who was also a selection convention hopeful.
Yesterday evening Fianna Fail HQ confirmed that following a meeting of the National Constituencies Committee the party would be running two more candidates -both Councillor Ambrose and Councillor Smith.
Tipp Fm understands the move has caused considerable disquiet in some quarters after assurances where given from high up the party chain that Jackie Cahill would run a solo campaign North of Thurles
