Uproar as Fine Gael decides to run four general election candidates in Mayo constituency
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Fine Gael's decision to run four candidates in the five-seater Mayo constituency has caused some consternation within the party.
On Friday, the party announced Martina Jennings and Mark Duffy would be added to the ticket having previously named Alan Dillon and Keira Keogh.
The Minister of State and Ms Keogh had been the only candidates to contest the convention when it was held last month, with Ms Keogh aiming to retain the seat currently held by outgoing TD Michael Ring.
Fine Gael has two seats in what is currently a four-seat constituency but is hoping to add a third with four candidates now being put forward.
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One party member said there is a risk of fragmenting the vote and transfers not going between colleagues.
The strategy devised by the leadership is the one that must be followed, they said, and it will be up to the candidates themselves to do everything they can to maximise the vote.
Mr Ring, who has served Mayo for three decades, will leave "big shoes to fill" which adds another level of concern heading into the election.
With two of the four Fine Gael candidates running for the first time, there is a worry that they will face an uphill battle against more established candidates such as Dara Calleary, Lisa Chambers, and Rose Conway-Walsh.
The Fine Gael strategy to run multiple candidates in Mayo differs from the more conservative approach being taken by Fianna Fáil as seen in Wicklow, where the party decided to select one candidate, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly.
Speaking on Friday, Mr Ring said he believes that where a party is running a single candidate, it is a sign they have "thrown in the towel and they have no ambition for the party".