Valerie Duffy has been selected by Fine Gael to be co-opted onto Roscommon County Council, filling the seat left vacant by the late Cllr John Naughten. She will be co-opted at a meeting of the council on Monday.
A well-known community activist from Moore, Ms Duffy was the preferred choice of Fine Gael members at the co-option selection convention held in the Athlone Springs Hotel on Thursday night. She secured the seat after defeating Taughmaconnell’s Ger Grehan in the members’ vote.
The seat in the Athlone Local Electoral Area had remained unfilled since Cllr Naughten’s passing in October last year. The late John Naughten had been selected to run for Fine Gael in the General Election last November before his untimely passing.
At the convention, Ms Duffy had the full support of the Naughten family. Former TD Denis Naughten spoke on behalf of the family ahead of the vote. Mr Nuaghten confirmed he had rejoined Fine Gael, having left the party in 2011 following the closure of Roscommon’s Emergency Department. He told the attendees that his late brother had selected who he wanted to replace him on Roscommon County Council if he was successful in the General Election confirming that the late councillor had pre-emptively selected Ms Duffy.
Speaking ahead of the convention, Ms Duffy acknowledged the contribution of the late councillor to the community: “Cllr Naughten made a real difference in our local communities, and I would like the opportunity to continue this good work, representing the views and issues that matter at county council level.”
