Frank Feighan has set his sights on a cabinet ministry, after being selected to run for Fine Gael in the next general election.
The TD beat former junior minister John Perry, from Ballymote, by 82 per cent to 18 per cent in the Sligo-Leitrim convention last night.
A total of 429 party members voted in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo.
Sligo councillor Thomas Walsh pulled out at the last minute because Fine Gael chose to select only one candidate.
Feighan was delighted with his clear win over Perry – and says he hopes to be in cabinet after the election:
Perry is calling on Fine Gael to add him to the ticket in the four-seat constituency: