At the party's convention in Mullingar, Senator O'Rourke and councillor Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, both from Athlone, will fight it out for one nomination to stand for FF in the next general election. O'Rourke is striving to return to the Dail, having lost her seat to Donie Cassidy in the 2002 general election.

Last week, Fianna Fail's National Constituencies Committee directed that sitting TDs Peter Kelly from Longford and Donie Cassidy from Castlepollard will stand unopposed at tonight's convention.

So all eyes will be fixed on the contest between O'Rourke and Moran for the nomination in the Athlone and Kilbeggan area.

Moran (37) told the Sunday Tribune: "It is time to bring in young people with new ideas and the party should not be afraid to let that happen. I am the person with enough buzz in me to deliver to the people of Athlone. It is going to be tough for me to get the nomination as Mary is a very well-known and highly respected politician.

"However, I have a mandate from the people after my successes in local elections so I believe I have a right to contest the nomination." He vowed to "stay behind" the party no matter what the outcome of the convention.

O'Rourke said: "I have done the work over the last few weeks in calling to each of the delegates and I have been heartened by their response. I do not like giving predictions as it would be giving hostages to fortune if I were to do that."

The convention takes place in the Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar at 5.30pm this evening.