PDs to select successor to Molloy in Galway

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, is expected to announce jobs for Galway today, before attending her party's convention to select a successor…

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, is expected to announce jobs for Galway today, before attending her party's convention to select a successor to Mr Bobby Molloy.

The jobs announcement, hosted by the Industrial Development Authority, has been described as "significant". Among those attending will be the Mayor of Galway, Mr Donal Lyons, one of three Progressive Democrats councillors seeking the party nomination for Galway West.

The PDs convention will be the party's first full meeting in the constituency since Mr Molloy resigned over the Naughton rape case.

Mr Molloy may also attend to hear tributes to him by party colleagues, some of whom have worked with him since before he joined the PDs in 1986.

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Mr Lyons was the first to declare his candidacy last week, and two more councillors are standing - former mayor and former PD party chairman, Mr Declan McDonnell, and Mr Noel Grealish. Party headquarters will determine whether one or more candidates will be selected.

All three say there is strong sympathy for Mr Molloy.

The possibility of further candidates seeking selection has not been ruled out, as any member of the party who has been paid up for the last 30 days is eligible to be nominated from the floor.