FG eyes Coghlan as potential city mayor
FORMER world champion athlete Eamonn Coghlan is being lined up by Fine Gael as a potential runner for Europe or the Dublin mayor.
The senator is also regarded as a possible general-election candidate in several Dail constituencies in Dublin.
Mr Coghlan was appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last year but only formally joined the Fine Gael parliamentary party yesterday.
The former Olympian lives in Castleknock in the Dublin West constituency, but is also seen as a possible runner in Dublin South-Central, as he is originally from Drimnagh.
The party hierarchy is also keeping its options open on Mr Coghlan as a potential candidate for the European Parliament elections or the directly elected Dublin Mayor, if the position is ever set up.
"He's an addition. It's a capture for Fine Gael. He's a household name, he's able and he gives us options," a senior source said.
- Fionnan Sheahan Political Editor
Irish Independent
