FORMER Kerry senior football captain Billy O’Shea is seeking to be the Fine Gael candidate for the upcoming General Election.

The 1997 All-Ireland winner confirmed today that he is going for the nomination to contest the upcoming General Election at the Fine Gael selection convention.

The convention for Kerry Fine Gael members is due to be held later this month. Mr O’Shea, originally from Listowel, works as a publican and auctioneer in Killorglin.

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“While all aspects of Irish life are important to me, I have a keen interest in the housing market given my background in this area as an auctioneer and what people in the county here are facing,” said Mr O’Shea in a statement issued this afternoon outlining his intentions.

“I want Kerry people to be able to live and work in their home communities, there is no better place in the world to live. I also have a keen interest in the health sector. My father was the local GP in Listowel for many years and I’m well aware of the importance of rural communities having their own health services – they are a precious and much valued resource.

“Prior to becoming self-employed, I worked as a veterinarian representative and gained a big insight into the agricultural sector before joining AIB and worked in both Kenmare and Caherciveen branches for four years.”

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“Given I am located in the Mid-Kerry area, we are within a reasonable distance of all areas to help the needs of the constituents of the county. I would like to be in a position to continue the good work of the outgoing TD, Brendan Griffin, who brought a lot of stability to the county following the economic crash.”

“I acknowledge the difficult economic climate that we are facing into with rising costs of living in all areas and I am under no illusion of the challenges that lay ahead. But this a challenge I would relish if nominated by Fine Gael members at the upcoming convention,” Mr O’Shea said.

Mr O’Shea is married to Emir Irwin from Killarney. They have three children; Abigail, Liam, and Peter.

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