Nominations for Fianna Fail’s candidate selection convention for the 2024 Local Elections close this evening (Thurs) at 5pm and sitting party councillor in Roscommon Orla Leyden has announced she will not be putting her name forward.

While councillor Leyden, with 20 years service, has stated that she will not be contesting next year’s election, nonetheless, she is not ruling out a future role for herself in politics.

Cllr Leyden will continue as a county councillor until May 2024, fulfilling her five-year mandate, after that she wants to pursue other interests.

She was first elected to Roscommon County Council in 2004 and re-elected in 2009, 2014, and 2019. She has served in the Mid-Roscommon Electoral Area and the Roscommon Municipal District. She also ran as a candidate for Fianna Fail in the 2020 General Election,  and is the daughter of former senator ,TD and Minister Terry Leyden.

Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley asked cllr Leyden why she has decided not to throw her name in the hat for the 2024 Local Elections…