Former FF Wexford councillor to join Independent Ireland

A former Fianna Fáil Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council is to join Independent Ireland – bringing the fledgling party’s representation at local Government level to 26 councillors nationwide.

Michael Sheehan served as a Fianna Fáil Councillor for New Ross from 1999 to 2024, before leaving the party prior to the last General Election.

It’s understood he’s to be appointed as Independent Ireland’s spokesperson on Finance and Enterprise.

Cllr Sheehan was one of four candidates for Fianna Fáil in Wexford in the 2020 General Election when he accrued 5.8% of first preferences, 4,366 votes.

In the last General Election he garnered 3.1% of the first preference share as an independent candidate, which was 1,623 votes.

He had been critical of his former party after Fianna Fáil opted to stand retired international soccer referee Michelle O’Neill alongside the Minister for Housing James Browne. Mr Browne was elected while Ms O’Neill garnered 296 votes.

Cllr Sheehan will be announced as Independent Ireland’s newest councillor later today.

His move follows an announcement last week that high-profile Longford Councillor Turlough McGovern was also joining Independent Ireland.

The Granard Councillor said he had joined the party after a period of “careful thought and reflection”.

Independent Ireland has four TDs – Michael Collins, Richard O’Donoghue, Ken O’Flynn and Michael Fitzmaurice – and MEP Ciaran Mullooly.

Wexford is a four-seat Dáil constituency, represented by Fianna Fáil’s James Browne, Sinn Fein’s Johnny Mythen, the Labour Party’s George Lawlor and Verona Murphy of the Wexford Independent Alliance.

Ms Murphy currently serves as Ceann Comhairle and so would be automatically returned at the next General Election should she still be in the role – effectively making the constituency a three-seat contest.

However, part of Wexford, north of Enniscorthy, currently joins with South Wicklow to create a three-seat Wicklow-Wexford constituency and this arrangement could be changed by the Electoral Commission when it reviews constituency boundaries.