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Brian Kerr managed the Republic of Ireland between 2003 and 2005. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Celeb candidate
Did Renua try to get Brian Kerr to run for the Dáil?
The former Ireland boss was sounded out about running for Lucinda Creighton’s party.
RENUA HAS PLAYED down reports that it tried to convince former Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr to join the party and run for the Dáil.
The party has confirmed that Kerr was sounded out about the possibility of running in Dublin South-Central, but there were no direct negotiations.
The Irish Sun reports today that Kerr turned down the approach from Lucinda Creighton’s party, insisting he wasn’t talking to anyone about politics.
The 62-year-old currently works as a pundit for TV3, 2fm and Today FM and despite his strong presence in the Dublin South-Central he does not wish to enter politics.
A Renua spokesperson insisted today there was “very little to” the story.
Somebody said to somebody who said to somebody that Kerr might be interested but there were no direct negotiations between us and Kerr. It was side channels. Somebody asked was he interested, and he wasn’t.
Renua is expected to announce its general election candidate in the constituency shortly with it not expected to be a so-called ‘celebrity candidate’.
Dublin South-Central is a five-seat constituency which currently has two Labour TDs, Michael Conaghan and Eric Byrne, as well as Fine Gael’s Catherine Byrne, Sinn Féin’s Aengus Ó Snodaigh and United Left deputy Joan Collins.
All but Conaghan are running for re-election with Sinn Féin also running Maire Devine and Fianna Fáil running Catherine Ardagh.
The Greens are running Oisín Ó hAlmhain, Brid Smith is running under the Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit banner, and independents Paul Hand and Richard Murray are also contesting.
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