Fianna Fáil has selected a 25-year-old first-time councillor to run for the party in the upcoming Galway West by-election.
Cillian Keane was selected by delegates at a party convention in the Salthill Hotel.
He was first elected to Galway County Council in the 2024 local elections, for the Oranmore- Baile Átha an Rí (Athenry) area.
He is from the Maree Oranmore area on the eastern fringe of the constituency.
Cllr Keane is a UCD graduate with a degree in Food and Agribusiness.
The contest to fill the seat vacated by Catherine Connolly on her election as President, is expected to be held in late May.
Cllr Keane's inclusion in the race brings to twelve the number of candidates in the running, so far, to take the fifth seat in the sprawling constituency.
Traffic gridlock, housing and the cost of living all look set to loom large on the minds of voters eligible to cast their ballots.
Sean Kyne is standing for Fine Gael, Labour will be represented by Helen Ogbu and Mark Lohan will contest on behalf of Sinn Féin.
Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich is standing for the Social Democrats, the Green Party is represented by Niall Murphy, Denman Rooke runs for People Before Profit, while Orla Nugent is the Aontú candidate.
Noel Thomas is the standard bearer for Independent Ireland, with three non-party candidates also declared: Thomas Welby, Sheila Garrity and Mike Cubbard.
