Enda Kenny to retire from Dáil at the next election

This will be the first time in over 60 years that the Kenny surname will not appear on a ballot paper in the Mayo constituency.

Enda Kenny has announced that he's officially calling time on his career in the Dáil, as Fine Gael members gathered in Mayo on Sunday evening to select the party's candidates for the next election.

The former Taoiseach will officially retire from parliament at the next election, making it the first time in six decades that the Kenny surname won't appear on the ballot paper in the mayo constituency.

His father, Henry Kenny was elected to Dáil Éireann during the 1954 general election, as a Fine Gael TD for the Mayo South constituency.

Mr Kenny addressed Sunday evening's convention in Castlebar, telling delegates that he had been honoured to have been given the support of voters in 13 successive elections.

@FineGael Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny addressing the #Mayo Fine Gael GE Convention in the TF Castlebar tonight pic.twitter.com/piOzrGfJcQ — Cllr Anthony Lavin (@alavin1) March 25, 2018

Kenny is the longest-serving TD currently in Dáil Éireann, having first been elected in a by-election in 1975, which makes him the incumbent Father of the Dáil.

He took the seat that his late father Henry had held for the previous 21 years and retained it in every election since then.

Fine Gael will run three candidates in Mayo next time round. Minister Michael Ring, Senator Michelle Mulheirn, former Mayo footballer Alan Dillon and Councillor Patsy O'Brien sought the approval of delegates during Sunday night's convention.

Kenny retired as party leader of Fine Gael back in May 2017 and finished up his role as Taoiseach on 2 June.