O'Mahony will be approached by the Mayo county board next week.

Although he has commited to running for the Dail on the Fine Gael ticket, the suspicion in Mayo is that he will accept the post as it will enhance rather than hinder his electoral prospects. If he does refuse the post, it is understood that Tommy Carr will be approached.

In Kerry, county board chiefs met with Eoin Liston last Thursday. He has said that he is unlikely to be able to give the commitment to the job, but the county board are hopeful of changing his mind. Paidi O Se is unlikely to return to the post during Sean Walsh's chairmanship but John Kennedy, Pat O'Shea and John Evans are other prospects.