Fianna Fáil have surprised many by announcing a third election candidate for Donegal.

The party has confirmed that Claudia Kennedy has been selected to contest the Donegal Constituency for the party.

Claudia from Ardfarna has been added to the ticket alongside her party colleagues, Minister Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallagher.

Commenting on her selection, she said: “I am honoured to be selected by my Fianna Fáil colleagues to contest the next General Election and fight to gain a seat in Donegal alongside my party colleagues.

“We have made great progress in things such as childcare, education, and cost of living supports, and I will run a campaign aimed at being elected to enable us to keep building on this progress.

Kennedy, who is a teacher in Finn Valley College in Stranorlar, is very proud of the investment Fianna Fáil has put into her own school.

“Fianna Fáil has invested heavily in my own school with a new ASD Unit currently being built that is under current construction, a sports capital grant towards the construction of a new pitch in the near future for Finn Valley College allocated through my party colleague Minister Thomas Byrne’s department, and free schoolbooks for all our Junior Cycle students now extended to all students as announced in the recent budget for next year 2025.

“There were 1600 SNA’s and 750 Special Education teachers announced in the Budget, all of that alongside Minister Foley’s tireless work on expansion of school transport makes me very proud to be selected.”

Claudia hailed Fianna Fáil’s childcare supports, which have been cut by 50% since the party re-entered government.

“The cuts in childcare since Fianna Fáil re-entered government has been so beneficial to parents.

“Throughout my campaign I will be a listening ear to all my constituents across a broad range of topics about the local and national issues that may be affecting them.

“I will continue to work tirelessly for constituents’, work on their behalf, and advocate for the values we all share.”