Galway Bay fm newsroom – The IFA presidential race, which is being contested by Athenry’s Joe Healy, is now officially down to three candidates.
The Carlow County Chairman Derek Deane has ceased his attempts to join the race after protracted wranglings over whether he had the right to run.
Mr Deane failed to be nominated but controversially said he’d secured last minute support within the required time frame and he had asked to be added to the ticket.
However he has now announced his withdrawal and says issues he’s raised with the Chairman of the Rules Committee should be reviewed before the next Presidential election.
Joe Healy’s remaining opposition is Henry Burns from Laois and Flor McCarthy from Kerry and the vote takes place in April
Joe Healy will officially launch his campaign tomorrow night in the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry