O’Ceidigh sets his sights on Dail

Date Published: 21-May-2009

CHIEF Executive of Aer Arann, Pádraig Ó Céidigh has, for the first time, explained why he declined to run as a Fianna Fáil candidate in the upcoming European elections – and has revealed it is his ambition to run for a seat in Dáil Éireann in the future.

Mr Ó Céidigh was engaged in serious negotiations with senior members of the Fianna Fáil party for several weeks before the party finally announced it was to run Donegal deputy Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher as a second candidate for the North West constituency.

Speaking to the Connacht Tribune this week, Mr Ó Céidigh admitted he had been flattered by the interest shown by Fianna Fáil and said he did seriously consider whether he could run for a seat in the European Parliament.

“There were formal approaches made to me by both Fine Gael and senior Fianna Fáil people over a period of a couple of weeks. I was honoured to be considered and that people thought I would be a good candidate to represent the people of this constituency,” he said.

“I am not …