A Councillor who secured more than half a quota in Meath West for Labour at the last general election has quit the party and joined Fianna Fáil.

The defection by Jenny McHugh is the latest blow for Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore who lost the Ireland-East MEP Nessa Childers after she resigned from the party.

Councillor McHugh, who represents Navan on Meath County Council, was formally welcomed into Fianna Fáil by Micheál Martin this afternoon.

He says "Jenny is a hard-working and energetic Councillor with a strong commitment to education and social justice".

The mother of seven children and school principal of Johnstown National School was elected to Meath County Council in 2009.

She contested the 2011 general election for the Labour party and secured more than half a quota polling almost 5,500 votes in the Meath-West constituency.