Adrian Kavanagh, First posted 2nd July 2013 with updates as new candidate nominations announced
The seventh of my rolling blog posts in which I detailed the latest information as to candidate selections relating to the different political parties and grouping and/or candidate declarations (as in the case of the non-party grouping). As noted before, the rule of thumb here was that I added party candidates only after they have been officially selected to run for the party at a selection convention or by some other means of candidate selection. The post focuses on the Labour Party candidate selections.In the summer of 2013 the Labour Party had one hundred and twenty six City/County Councillors and eighty nine Borough/Town Councillors (twenty five of these also serving as County Councillors), meaning that the party had a total of one hundred and ninety local elected representatives at that point in time. Various defections from the party in the following months saw the number of Labour City/County Councillors fall to one hundred and eighteen, while the number of Labour Borough/Town Councillors fell to eighty four, meaning the party now has one hundred and seventy seven local representatives (avoiding the double counting of Town Councillors who also serve as County Councillors). With the party’s support levels declining since General Election 2011 as evidenced in opinion polls, Labour faces a very difficult task in trying to maintain its current level of City/County Councillors at the 2014 Local Elections, especially with the added factor of the usual anti-government swing that one associates with mid-term, or second-order, type elections such as these. While some have suggested that party losses might be offset somewhat by the addition of extra seats to Dublin (and some of the other more urbanised local authority areas), the tendency for these areas to show exceptionally high levels of volatility in electoral contests (especially relative to the more rural areas within the state) could mean that a swing against Labour is especially heightened in such areas, thus offsetting any potential bonus that might be accruing to the party arising from the increase in local authority seat numbers in these areas. Labour Party poll figures in the latter part of 2013 had put support levels for the party as not being decidedly lower than the level of support won by the party in the 2009 Local Elections (just over fourteen percent), but opinion poll support levels fell again in the first half of 2014.
One hundred and eighty nine candidates are contesting these City and County Council elections for the Labour Party (across one hundred and eight different electoral areas – 79.6% of the 137 electoral areas across the state). Fifty five of the Labour Party candidates are female (29.1%) and one hundred and thirty four (70.9%) are male. Forty eight (23.1%) of the Labour candidates at the 2009 election were female, so the party is running more female candidates in this election, even though the overall number of Labour candidates has fallen from two hundred and eight candidates at the 2009 contests.
One hundred and one of the Labour Party candidates are sitting City/County Councillors (53.4%) and a further twenty five candidates are non-dual mandate Borough/Town Councillors (sixteen of the candidates are currently serving on County and Borough/Town Councils). This means that one hundred and twenty six (66.7%) of the Labour Party candidates are currently serving in electoral office on different local authorities, whether it be on City/County Councils and/or Borough/Town Councils. Labour Party local election candidates officially selected to date include:
Electoral area | Candidates | |
Carlow | ||
Carlow | 10 | Caroline Townsend, Des Hurley, William Patton |
Muinebeag | 8 | William Quinn, Jim Townsend, Ken Hickey |
Cavan | ||
Bailieborough-Cootehill | 6 | |
Ballyjamesduff | 6 | |
Cavan-Belturbert | 6 | Mary Croke |
Clare | ||
Ennis | 8 | Seamus Ryan, Dermot Hayes |
Killaloe | 6 | Donal Higgins |
Shannon | 6 | Pascal Fitzgerald, Tony McMahon |
West Clare | 8 | |
Cork County | ||
Ballincollig-Carrigaline | 10 | Angela Murphy, Liam O’Connor |
Bandon-Kinsale | 6 | Tomas O’Brien |
Blarney-Macrooom | 6 | Martin Coughlan |
Cobh | 7 | Cathal Rasmussen, Noel Costello |
East Cork | 6 | Eric Nolan |
Fermoy | 6 | Noel McCarthy |
Kanturk-Mallow | 6 | Ronan Sheehan |
West Cork | 8 | Norma Thomson |
Cork City | ||
Cork City North Central | 5 | Catherine Clancy |
Cork City North East | 4 | John Kelleher |
Cork City North West | 4 | Michael O’Connell |
Cork City South Central | 5 | Lorraine Kingston |
Cork City South East | 7 | Denis O’Flynn |
Cork City South West | 6 | Ger Gibbons |
Donegal | ||
Donegal | 6 | |
Glenties | 6 | Seamus Rodgers |
Letterkenny | 9 | Siobhan McLoughlin, Christy Galligan |
Inishowen | 10 | Martin Farren |
Stranorlar | 6 | Brian McCrea |
Dublin City | ||
Ballyfermot-Drimnagh | 6 | Sheila Howes, Michael O’Sullivan |
Ballymun | 7 | Aine Clancy, Andrew Montague |
Beaumont-Donaghmede | 9 | Brian McDowell, Alison Gilliand |
Cabra-Finglas | 7 | John Redmond, Brendan Carr, Declan Meenagh |
Clontarf | 6 | Jane Horgan-Jones |
Crumlin-Kimmage | 6 | Rebecca Moynihan, Gary Honer, John Gallagher |
North Inner City | 8 | Padraig McLoughlin, Lucy McRoberts, Darryl O’Callaghan |
Pembroke-South Dock | 8 | Dermot Lacey, Gerry Ashe, James Humphreys |
Rathgar-Rathmines | 6 | Mary Freehill, Oisin Quinn, Henry Upton |
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown | ||
Blackrock | 6 | Deirdre Kingston, Angela Collins-Timlin |
Dun Laoghaire | 8 | Jane Dillion Byrne, Donna Pierce, John Kane |
Dundrum | 7 | Grace Tallon, Peter Leonard |
Glencullen-Sandyford | 7 | Lettie McCarthy, Peter O’Brien |
Killiney-Shankill | 6 | Carrie Smyth, Denis O’Callaghan |
Stillorgan | 6 | Richard Humpreys |
Fingal County | ||
Balbriggan | 8 | Ken Farrell, Ciaran Byrne, Peadar O’Kelly |
Castleknock | 7 | John Walsh |
Howth-Malahide | 8 | Judy Dunne, Brian McDonagh |
Mulhuddart | 8 | Michael O’Donovan, Mary McCambley |
Swords | 9 | Gerry McGuire, Tom Kelleher, Duncan Smith |
South Dublin County | ||
Clondalkin | 8 | Breeda Bonner, Ken Kinsella |
Lucan | 8 | Eamon Tuffy, Caitriona Jones |
Tallaght Central | 6 | Mick Duff, Kemi Adenekan |
Tallaght South | 6 | Martina Genockey, Eugene Ryan |
Templeogue Terenure | 6 | Pamela Kearns, Chris Bond |
Rathfarnham | 6 | Aideen Carbery, Paddy Cosgrave |
Galway City | ||
Galway City Central | 6 | Colette Connolly, Billy Cameron, John McDonagh |
Galway City East | 6 | Nuala Nolan, Monica Coughlan |
Galway City West | 6 | Niall McNelis |
Galway County | ||
Athenry-Oranmore | 7 | Margaret Dean, Clement Shevlin |
Ballinasloe | 6 | Johnny Walsh |
Conamara | 9 | Joe Curran |
Loughrea | 8 | Dessie O’Brien |
Tuam | 9 | |
Kerry | ||
Killarney | 8 | Sean Counihan |
Listowel | 7 | Pat Leahy, Katie Lucid McCabe |
South and West Kerry | 9 | |
Tralee | 9 | Gillian Wharton, Terry O’Brien, Graham Spring |
Kildare | ||
Athy | 6 | Mark Wall, Aoife Breslin |
Celbridge-Leixlip | 7 | Kevin Byrne, Shane Griffin, Colm Purcell |
Maynooth | 9 | John McGinley, Julie McNamara |
Kildare-Newbridge | 9 | Francis Browne, Willie Hamilton |
Naas | 9 | Anne Breen, Ger Dunne, Fergus Carpenter |
Kilkenny | ||
Castlecomer | 6 | Maurice Shortall |
Kilkenny City-East | 6 | Marie Fitzpatrick, Tommy Prendergast, Michael O’Brien |
Kilkenny City-West | 6 | Seán Ó hArgáin |
Piltown | 6 | Tomas Breathnach |
Laois | ||
Borris in Ossory-Mountmellick | 6 | Lisa Delaney |
Graiguecullen-Portarlington | 6 | Grainne Corcoran |
Portlaoise | 7 | Noel Tuohy |
Leitrim | ||
Ballinamore | 6 | |
Carrick-on-Shannon | 6 | |
Manorhamilton | 6 | |
Limerick | ||
Limerick City East | 8 | Elena Secas, Derek Mulcahy |
Limerick City North | 6 | Tom Shortt, Frankie Daly |
Limerick City West | 7 | Joe Leddin, Thomas Hannon |
Adare-Rathkeale | 6 | |
Cappamore-Kilmallock | 7 | |
Newcastle West | 6 | Stephen Goulding |
Longford | ||
Ballymahon | 6 | |
Granard | 6 | |
Longford | 6 | |
Louth | ||
Ardee | 6 | Gavan Kierans |
Drogheda | 10 | Paul Bell, Pio Smith |
Dundalk-Carlingford | 6 | |
Dundalk-South | 7 | |
Mayo | ||
Ballina | 8 | |
Castlebar | 8 | Harry Barrett |
Claremorris | 7 | |
West Mayo | 7 | |
Meath | ||
Ashbourne | 6 | Niamh McGowan |
Kells | 7 | Brian Collins, Sandy Gallagher |
Laytown-Bettystown | 7 | Eoin Holmes |
Navan | 7 | Anton McCabe |
Ratoath | 7 | James Conlon |
Trim | 6 | Tracy McElhinney, James O’Shea |
Monaghan | ||
Ballybay-Clones | 6 | |
Carrickmacross-Castleblaney | 6 | Peadar Markey, Ciaran Connolly |
Monaghan | 6 | |
Offaly | ||
Birr | 6 | |
Edenderry | 6 | Declan Leddin |
Tullamore | 7 | Paddy Doheny |
Roscommon | ||
Athlone (Roscommon) | 6 | |
Boyle | 6 | Michael Frain |
Roscommon | 6 | |
Sligo | ||
Ballymote-Tubbercurry | 8 | |
Sligo | 10 | Jimmy McGarry, Marcella McGarry |
Tipperary | ||
Carrick-on-Suir | 6 | Michael Cleere, Liam Hayes |
Cashel-Tipperary | 7 | Mick Byrnes |
Clonmel | 9 | Seanie Lonergan |
Nenagh | 9 | Virginia O’Dowd, Lalor McGee, Fiona Bonfield, Greg Starr |
Templemore-Thurles | 9 | John Kennedy, Shane Lee |
Waterford | ||
Waterford City East | 6 | Jack Walsh |
Waterford City South | 6 | Seamus Ryan |
Tramore-Waterford City West | 6 | Dee Jacques |
Comeragh | 6 | Ger Barron |
Dungarvan-Lismore | 8 | John Pratt, Nicky Sheehan |
Westmeath | ||
Athlone (Westmeath) | 7 | Jim Henson |
Mullingar-Coole | 7 | Michael Dollard, Dennis Leonard, Peter Keaney, Rachel Grimes |
Mullingar-Kilbeggan | 6 | John Penrose, Detty Cornally, Ger Corocan, Gerry Sheridan |
Wexford | ||
Gorey | 8 | Robert Ireton |
Enniscorthy | 8 | Martin Storey |
New Ross | 8 | Ollie Somers |
Wexford | 10 | George Lawlor, Joe Ryan, Bernie Mullen |
Wicklow | ||
Arklow | 6 | Mary Mooty |
Baltinglass | 6 | |
Bray | 8 | Tracy O’Brien, Ronan McManus |
Greystones | 6 | Ian McGahon |
Wicklow | 6 | Paul O’Brien |
Dermot Looney was selected to contest Terenure-Templeogue as a Labour Party candidate, but subsequently left the party on January 7th 2014. Maria Parodi was selected to contest Pembroke-South Dock but withdrew from the local elections contest in February 2014. Brendan Leahy was selected to contest West Cork, but has instead decided to retire from politics and withdrew from the local elections contest in March 2014. Billy Kyne was selected to contest Dungarvan-Lismore, but has instead decided to retire from politics and withdrew from the local elections contest in March 2014. Leonard Hatrick was selected to contest Ardee, but seems to have withdrawn as Gavan Kierans is now down as the Labour Party candidate for this electoral area.
Thanks to Colin O’Connor, Eugene Deering, Kiris Hanafin, Dermot Lacey, Frank Fogarty, Dermot Looney, Peter Horgan, Dion Tallant, Shane Griffin, Philip Slattery, Geoff McEvoy, the Labour Women group, Damian O’Broin, Sean Ardagh, Criostoir O Faolain, Conor Reilly, Athenry Labour, James Doorley, Sinead Ahern, Seamus Ryan, Shane Hogan, Sharon Gibbons, Valerie McDermott, Aoife and Denis Landy for providing some of the information noted in this post.
Hi Adrian, Fantastic in-depth informative information on the forthcoming elections. Can you please advise as to how an individual can declare themselves to run as an independant in the local elections?
Thanking you in advance
Desmond J. Hayes
All details on how to formally be nominated as a local elections candidate will be provided by your local City/County Council, so the Council website should be the first stop for all potential/interested local election candidates.
Looking at your email address, I’m presuming you’re focusing on Limerick – in which case the key web link would be through the Limerick County/City Councils: the link for the 2009 elections was: http://www.lcc.ie/Register_of_Electors/Local_Elections_2009/Nomination_Procedure/Nomination_Procedure.htm
Neither of those Councils, at a quick glance, seem to have updated their information for 2014 yet, but other Councils have and the same guidelines as for these would apply in all other cases (except for the fact that nomination forms/papers obviously need to be lodged through your own local Council). See the 2014 Dublin City Council details here: http://www.dublincity.ie/YourCouncil/LocalElections/Pages/LocalElections.aspx
In advance of the formal nomination (which must be done in the week between 26th April (10.00am) 2014 and 3rd May (12.00pm) 2014), you can always publically declare your candidacy using local media sources (send out press releases) and social media (set up a Facebook page, establish a Twitter account etc…)
Hi, I was just talking to Billy Kyne, a labour candidate in Dungarvan-Lismore. He told me that he has decided not to contest the election.
Thanks – just saw this on WLR FM website also: http://www.wlrfm.com/news-single.php?cat=1&id=1191
Thanks – just saw this on WLR FM website also: http://www.wlrfm.com/news-single.php?cat=1&id=1191
John Gallagher has been nominated for Crumlin Kimmage as a Labour Party Candidate according to nominations on Dublin City website
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