Gallagher launches Presidential bid in Offaly

17th September 2018

THE presidential candidate with Offaly connections launched his campaign in the county on Monday.

Sean Gallagher, the runner-up to President Michael D Higgins in the 2011 election, is a son of the late Annie Bracken from Tullamore.

The family ran a shop on William Street and Mr Gallagher, a Cavan-born businessman, said he had spent summers working there when he was young.

Now 56, the father of two recalled his grandfather Sam and his uncle Simon, who along with Josephine had the shop just down from Kilbeggan Bridge.

“I'm delighted to be here in Tullamore, a place I spent many summers,” he told councillors.

He was speaking after receiving the endorsement of four other local authorities for his second presidential bid.

Mr Gallagher had been supported by the Fianna Fail group on Offaly County Council and asked them to withdraw their nomination motion to allow other candidates enter the race.

However, Cllr Eamon Dooley, leader of the Fianna Fail group, said he would be reluctant to withdraw the motion because the reasons for tabling it in the first place remained the same.

It is due to come before another meeting of Offaly County Council next Monday, September 17.

The 'Dragons' Den' businessman Peter Casey, the journalist and campaigner Gemma O'Doherty and Seamus Nolan, a campaigner on behalf of victims of institutional abuse, also made pitches for support at Monday's meeting but no decision was made by councillors.