Above: Brendan Kenneally, with a disappointed but magnanimous Cllr Pat Daly behind him, receiving a congratulatory kiss,

As widely anticipated, Brendan Kenneally TD was selected as the sole candidate to represent Fianna Fáil in Waterford in the forthcoming General Election at last Friday’s behind-closed-doors party convention in Dungarvan – but not without considerable dissent.

Chaired by outgoing Minister of State Martin Manseragh, the at-times fractious meeting concluded with a standing ovation from the 150-strong gathering for the ‘man in possession’.

Earlier, Tramore area councillor Pat Daly, who worked closely with Martin Cullen over a 17-year period, had been the only other nominee left standing following the withdrawal of former TD Ollie Wilkinson from Tourin.