'I will be fighting for every vote': Seamus McGrath to target his brother’s Dáil seat

Carrigaline county councillor Seamus McGrath has said he plans to seek Fianna Fáil’s nomination to run in the next general election, and hopes to win the Dáil seat held by his brother, former finance minister Michael McGrath, since 2007.

Seamus McGrath is leader of the Fianna Fáil group in Cork County Council, and was re-elected at last month’s local elections, receiving the highest number of first preferences of any local candidate in the country.

He received 5,191 first preferences in the Carrigaline local electoral area, more than 3,000 above the quota of 2,057 votes.

He has been a county councillor for the past 17 years and he hopes to receive his party’s nomination to contest the next general election in Cork South Central, when the constituency will increase from four to five seats.

Mr McGrath’s brother, Michael, stepped down as finance minister late last month after it was confirmed by Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin that he would be Ireland’s nominee to the European Commission.

Michael McGrath remains a TD but will not be contesting the next general election, which must take place by March of next year, but which many suspect may occur in late October or early November.

Speaking to The Echo this week, Seamus McGrath confirmed that he intends to seek the Fianna Fáil nomination to contest the next election alongside Micheál Martin, who has been a TD in Cork South Central since 1989.

“Having consulted with family, friends and party members, I have decided to put my name forward, and I certainly would hope to receive some support from the members.

“We don’t have a convention date yet, but certainly I will be putting myself forward and I would be delighted to be selected as a candidate and certainly would do my utmost to secure a seat for the party in Cork South Central,” Mr McGrath said.

“I’m taking nothing for granted, every election is different, I obviously received a very good vote in the recent local election and was very humbled by the level of support I received. But a local election is one thing and a general election is another thing and I will be fighting for every vote and taking nothing for granted, and putting in as strong a campaign as possible, with the hope of securing a seat.”

Mr McGrath, 49, is married to Gayle, and they have three young daughters.