Fitzmaurice confirms he is staying put in Roscommon-Galway

Independent Ireland TD Michael Fitzmaurice has confirmed this evening, Wednesday, that he is staying put and will contest the general election in Roscommon-Galway.

Since the constituency was redrawn, there had been speculation that Deputy Fitzmaurice might run in Galway East.

Under the new boundary, a population of 16,330 in 32 County Galway electoral districts in the Roscommon-Galway constituency were transferred to Galway East.

In a statement issued this evening, Deputy Fitzmaurice said that in choosing to remain in Roscommon-Galway, he was opting for the "tougher road, refusing to take the easier path in Galway East".

“I’m not running from a challenge. I’m standing by the people who stood by me over the past ten years,” he said. “From Roscommon to Galway, and South Leitrim before that, the support I’ve received has been nothing short of humbling. I have worked hard to deliver for these communities and will continue to do so, whatever the result.

“As a sitting TD for the party and spokesperson on Agriculture, if I am lucky enough to be re-elected by the people of Roscommon-Galway, I have every intention of going into Government, provided our policies are adopted by coalition partners,” he said.

The Glinsk native was first elected to the Dáil in 2014 after a by-election in the then Roscommon South Leitrim constituency, and retained his seat in the 2016 and 2020 elections in Roscommon-Galway.

His party colleague, Willamstown based councillor and businessman, Declan Geraghty, will stand in the Galway East constituency.

“With my roots here in Williamstown and my business firmly established in the heart of Galway, I know the constituency and I know the issues people face every day," Cllr Geraghty said in a statement. “I’m honoured to step forward for Galway East and to work for sustainable growth, for our rural communities, and for the values we share across the West."

Earlier today, Taoiseach Simon Harris confirmed that the general election will be held on Friday, November 29th.

Mr Harris will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin on Friday to seek the dissolution of the Dáil.