And then there were two . . . Galway City Councillor John Connolly, and broadcaster Gráinne Seoige, will be on the ballot paper in the upcoming General Election after they were rubberstamped unopposed at the Fianna Fáil selection convention in Galway West.

Six other hopefuls nominated to contest the convention withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour, removing the need for delegates to choose their preferred candidates in a vote at Oughterard Community Centre last Friday.

It’s understood Cllr Connolly (45) and Ms Seoige (50) had secured sufficient pledges of support from delegates in advance of convention, meaning the other contenders saw the writing on the wall.

City Councillor Alan Cheevers, Senator Ollie Crowe, former City Councillor Mike Crowe, County Councillors Gerry King and Cillian Keane, and Daragh Ó Tuairisg, an unsuccessful County Council Local Election candidate last June, all pulled out of the contest.

Cllr Cheevers, who last week insisted he would not bow to pressure from local party bigwigs to exit the race, withdrew his name at 3pm Friday. He did not attend convention.

The selected duo is vying to retain the seat that will be vacated by Éamon Ó Cuív, who is retiring after 35 years an Oireachtas member, and the party has an outside chance of a second.

Senior party figures have indicated they may add a third candidate, from the eastern end of the constituency including Carnmore, Oranmore and City East.

Ms Seoige is the ‘Conamara candidate’, although they hope the An Spidéal native, a well-known broadcaster and influencer, will have appeal across the constituency, including Galway City.

Cllr Connolly is the ‘city candidate’ but has support in Conamara – he used to teach in Rosscahill and was chair of CLG Bearna.

In a constituency with the largest Gaeltacht in the country, both are fluent Irish speakers.

Ms Seoige is a newcomer to politics, but this will be Cllr Connolly’s sixth electoral test.

As well as three successful local elections, and one in which he lost his City Council seat, the Athenry school principal put in a creditable performance in the 2016 General Election in Galway West, coming eighth in a 20-horse race.

The incumbent described both candidates as ‘brilliant’.

“I have always believed that success in life is not measured in what you do but in the people who come after you,” Deputy Ó Cuív told delegates.

“It’s a balanced ticket in every way – it is geographically balanced, and gender balanced, which is important in this election. We’ll be putting up a battle for every vote in Galway West.

“We’ve two worthy candidates and I’ll be out with them on the ground,” he added.

Pictured: Éamon Ó Cuív TD, who is not standing in the next election, with the two candidates selected at the weekend convention to run for Fianna Fáil in Galway West, Gráinne Seoige and Cllr John Connolly.