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BROADCASTER AND NEWSREADER Alison Comyn, who worked in Irish and British media for 30 years, will contest the next general election in the Louth constituency for Fianna Fáil.
The journalist, who left her newsreader role in Sky News to move back to Drogheda almost a decade ago, will join Senator Erin McGreehan on the ticket. She has previously held roles at RTÉ, BBC, UTV Ireland, Channel 4 and various Irish newspapers.
In a statement this afternoon, Fianna Fáil said Comyn was selected due to her “long-standing commitment to public service”. Comyn said her experience working as a journalist led to her decision to seek the selection.
“I know the stories, struggles, and successes that have shaped our community because I live in the region and experience them myself, meaning I’m not just a candidate, but a neighbour who is invested in the future of our region,” she said.
The former broadcaster said she believed that the Drogheda area has faced many challenges over the years and wants to be part of the making the region a “thriving, vibrant community”.
Tánaiste and party leader Micheál Martin has welcomed the decision, adding that he believes Comyn is a “very accomplished candidate, who will bring a wealth of experience to the campaign”.
The journalist joins a number of people from a media background that Fianna Fáil have selected to contest an election recently. In June, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú – a former RTÉ presenter and barrister – was elected as an MEP to Ireland South.
In recent weeks it has also been reported that another presenter, Gráinne Seoige, is expected to put her name forward to be a nominated as a candidate in Galway West, following the retirement of TD Éamon Ó Cúiv.
Ó Cúiv confirmed to RTÉ this month that he had received a call from Seoige and that she intends to put her name forward.
He later told The Journal that he did not want to speculate on the outcome but had “great faith” that the party will give the “best result for result for Fianna Fáil in the constituency”.
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Oh it’s a popularity contest now….
@marklars81: sure why not – TDs have the best pension pots in the country. Good luck to who ever wants to take on that role in the current environment!!
@marklars81: it always was , you vote for whoever you like the most
Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates spoke about this popularity contest to get to the Dail on there podcast Path To Power. There’s not a snowballs hope in hell I’d vote for someone with zero experience or who hasn’t been active in the community. This idea of random people getting selected because their on the tv or sports stars Nina Carberry or Cynthia Ní Mhurchú prime example and only getting selected because they are women and parties need to reach 40% female quota or lose funding.
@Nemethon: don’t forget Roses of Tralee n’all, they’re just so inclusive these days
@Nemethon: This quota nonsense could put me off voting for women.
If she used to work for Sky News, we know without question that she is not capable of speaking the truth… so I hope she gets soundly trounced.
@Todd Hebert: lol.
@Todd Hebert: Also she worked for RTE, BBC, UTV and Channel 4, so she’s a practiced and polished liar, she’ll fit in nicely!
@Todd Hebert: she worked for bbc. The only blithe on her CV
there was a time when a selection to run as a FF candidate was something that people fought over, those days are long gone for FF and MM thinks he’s doing a great job, he is, for himself
Ahhh FF on the pulse of the ordinary Joe & Mary. A great bunch no doubt about it
I feel sorry for sitting FF councillors in these situations. It shows how much regard they hold in party Hq’s. Parachuting in these “stars in their own minds” is a sad indictment of what parties will do in order to try and garner votes.
FF are a sham party!!!
The pull of the gravy train is to hard to resist
@Paul: . Why don’t you put yourself forward so?
@Richard Ford: I don’t like gravy. Why don’t you your obviously an ffg suckler
Fourth estate is a myth.
Other side to the story here is how Irish Journalism is now dead in the water. They are all beholden to Govt as they are all seeking jobs as PR, Advisors, Media Consultants etc. Look at Simon Harris’s appointments, all direct from Irish MSM, Newstalk, Examiner etc. RTE now beholden to Govt after the last multi Million bailout, no investigative Journalism or alternative voice now in Ireland. It’s all about controlling the Narrative. I recently listened to ladies from a certain NGO been interviewed & they stated that you must control the Narrative, it was an eye opener, nobody could be allowed disagree with them. When Hate Speech is in, we will be close to be an Authoritarian State, this is the route Putin took, now happening here. Will these journalists step down now so as to be impartial ?
Sky News, surely she is overqualified!
A very worthy candidate, I wish her all the best and happiness and success, it would be great for the country if she gets elected
@Fintan Pox: she certainly knows her onions
What her qualifications O she doesn’t need any to join FFG
@Sean O: why would you need qualifications to join a political party?
Ah Alison a Drogheda girl through and through very well respected in the Town has been with the Drogheda Independent years …I still won’t be voting for her…
It’s been jockeys, rose of Tralee winners and now Grainne Seoige and Alison Comyn. We’ve had boxers too. It’s into the age of the celebrity candidate now with name recognition seemingly the key. Some of them particularly former journalists might do a good job but some clearly wouldn’t have the first idea about politics and I wonder what they actually do when elected particularly to Europe where nobody is paying attention most of the time.
Met her a few times ,nice girl from a good drogheda family
@Rory Burns: “From a good Drogheda family”
Just like yourself Rory!! ;>)
Her career started well when she was young on light entertainment holiday type shows, went downhill from there, not up to the task of serious journalism, not at all active in the community, let’s see how stupid the people of Louth are, I’d say it’s 50 50 she gets elected, it will certainly be a barometer as to how smart or how thick the electorate are. Glad we don’t have a Mr Bobby equivalent here because FFG would surely put them forward.
Alison will be good for for Ireland and good for Drogheda. She has stayed true to her roots, always remembered where she came from and participated in making her community a better place. She will be a breadth of fresh air in Dublin.
Great that so many are stepping forward and ignoring the sad begrudger anti FF nonsense. The electorate are better educated nowadays and can see straight through the faked negativity.
As a successful main stream journalist she will be adept in being economical with the truth and therefore the perfect FF candidate !!.
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