Grainne Seoige will next week lodge papers seeking to run for Fianna Fail in general election

"She said she would be seeking the nomination. She is definitely interested in running for the party," Mr Ó Cuív told the Irish Independent.

"I explained to her how it works," Mr Ó Cuiv said, adding that she undoubtedly had popular appeal, but Fianna Fáil would undoubtedly be running two candidates in the five-seat constituency and aiming to win seats for both.

"There are two considerations in the candidate selection - gender and geography," he said. "These things will be taken into account in picking a candidate in the city area and one in the county."

"Whoever is picked by the great Fianna Fáil party, I will absolutely be backing. There are 500 members in Galway West and I completely trust them, as I have done for 35 years."

Read at Irish Independent