Henry coyle may stand in next local elections

Speculation is growing that professional Erris boxer Henry Coyle is considering a future career in Irish politics.

The Chicago-based sportsman, who is a son of Fine Gael Councillor Gerry Coyle, may put his name forward for the party for the next local elections in 2019 in the event of his father retiring.

It is understood the party wants to run two contenders in the barony in four years’ time, one based in the Kiltane/Bangor area with the other located in the town of Belmullet.

Coyle is viewed within the ranks as the ideal contender to fill the Kiltane/Bangor role, with Leonard Shevlin, a member of a well-known business family, likely to get the Belmullet town nomination in the West Mayo Municipal District. 

Despite building up a business in America, Coyle keeps a close eye on Mayo political affairs and canvassed for Minister of State Michael Ring during general election campaigns. He also made the trip home to attend the Fine Gael national conference in Castlebar last February and has attended meetings of Mayo County Council over the years.      

An informed source told The Connaught Telegraph: 'Henry loves politics and would jump at the chance of being a Fine Gael candidate. But he is busy in the U.S. at the present time and it may just suit him to become involved in a few years’ time in the event of his father retiring.

'The next local elections are going to be very interesting in Erris because Fine Gael intends to run two candidates and Fianna Fáil will probably do the same.'  

Henry Coyle, at 34 years of age, is coming to the end of his boxing career. As an amateur, he made the breakthrough in 2003 when he won the Irish welterweight title after beating James Moore in the final at the National Boxing Stadium in Dublin. Three years later he secured a gold medal at the World Military Games in South Africa.

He then turned professional and had his first pro fight in March 2007, which he won at Madison Square Garden, New York, on the 'Erin Go Brawl' bill in which Coyle beat fellow debutant Jason Collazo by a knockout in the first round.

Coyle claimed the vacant WBF light middleweight title at the Royal Theatre in Castlebar on August 12, 2011, when he beat Italy’s Elio Cotena on a technical knockout.

His father, Gerry, has been a Fine Gael member of Mayo County Council since 1999.