Sinn Féin has selected Nigel Dennehy to contest the forthcoming general election in the constituency of Cork North West.

Mr Dennehy (27) was selected at a convention held at the Riverside Park Hotel in Macroom on Thursday evening.

Accepting his nomination, Mr Dennehy said the next election required a focus on rural Ireland and investment in services.

“The people of this constituency only see their communities being decimated by the policies of this Government,” he said.

“They feel marginalised and abandoned by the lack of investment in infrastructure and the stripping of vital public services.

“Mothers and fathers see their children emigrating for lack of a job, and poverty is ever increasing.”

A member of Sinn Féin since 2006, Mr Dennehy is a community activist and has worked on previous election campaigns in the constituency.