Adrian Kavanagh, First posted 21st February 2024, with updates to follow as I become aware of new candidate declarations.
This is the latest in my series of rolling blog posts, in which I detail 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) ahead of the 2019 City and County Council elections. This post will focus on non-party/independent candidates. Back in June 2019, the non-party/independents grouping accounted for one hundred and ninety four City/County Councillors, following on a very successful set of election contests for non-party candidates at the 2014 and 2019 Local Elections. Due to various defections to the non-party ranks from different political parties over the following months and years, the number of Independent/Non-Party City/County Councillors (as of 21st February 2024) has climbed to two hundred and three, according to my best estimates.
As of now (17th May 2024), there are three hundred and eighty seven non party/independent candidates listed here. The relatively low number of candidates listed here (497 non-party candidates contested the 2019 Local Elections , for instance) merely reflects the fact that information about non party/independent candidate declarations can often be very hard to find, especially as there is no formal selection convention process involved here. (I also do not assume that sitting Independent Councillors will run again.) In a large number of cases (maybe amounting to well over one hundred cases), information about some independent/non party candidate declarations may only emerge after the formal period of candidate nominations has closed and the official candidate lists for the different electoral areas been drawn up (two weeks before the elections are due to take place).
Eighty eight of these candidates are women (22.7%) and two hundred and ninety eight (77.0%) are men.
One hundred and thirty six (35.2%) of these declared non-party candidates are currently incumbents (City/County Council members). 35.9% of the male Independent local election candidates listed here are incumbents, as opposed to 33.0% of female Independent candidates. Twelve of these incumbent non-party candidates (8.8%) were co-options. At least eleven (2.8%) other non-party candidates have previously held some form of electoral office.
The non party/independent candidates who are contesting these elections include the following people (Please note that, as in the other similar posts, any links that are provided here are to posts/newspaper reports offering “evidence” of their candidatures and will not link back to candidate websites, which I don’t do as there’s not enough time to do this for every candidate):
Electoral Areas (166) | Non Party Candidates |
Carlow | |
Carlow | Jolly O’Rock, Adetula Temiola, Annette McDonnell |
Tullow | Will Paton, Billy Nolan, Patricia Fennelly Nolan, Annette McDonnell |
Muinebeag | |
Cavan | |
Bailieborough-Cootehill | Fiona McCormack, Gary Cosgrove, John O’Reilly |
Ballyjamesduff | |
Cavan-Belturbert | Brendan Fay, Maryam Temile, Susuana Komolafe |
Clare | |
Ennis | Amanda Major, Ruairí Keenan, Jacek Kazimierz |
Killaloe | Matt Moroney |
Shannon | Michael Begley, PJ Ryan, Keith McNamara, Pat Barry |
Ennistymon | Pam O’Loughlin |
Kilrush | Ian Lynch, Dinny Gould |
Cork County | |
Carrigaline | Ben Dalton O’Sullivan |
Bandon-Kinsale | Alan Coleman, Brendan Piper |
Macroom | |
Cobh | Diarmaid Ó Cadhla |
Midleton | Mary Linehan Foley, John Buckley, Michelle Neville |
Fermoy | William O’Leary |
Kanturk | |
Mallow | |
Bantry-West Cork | Finbarr Harrington, Helen O’Sullivan |
Skibbereen-West Cork | Declan Hurley, Karen Coakley, Humphrey Deegan, Barry O’Mahony |
Cork City | |
Cork City North East | |
Cork City North West | |
Cork City South Central | Paudie Dineen |
Cork City South East | Kieran McCarthy |
Cork City South West | |
Donegal | |
Donegal | Niamh Kennedy, Diarmaid Doherty, Jimmy Brogan, Pauric Kennedy, John Molloy |
Glenties | Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, Selina O’Donnell, Jonathan Stewart, Ann Sweeney |
Milford | Pauric McGarvey, Declan Meehan |
Buncrana | Adrian McMyler |
Letterkenny | Declan Jordan |
Carndonagh | Paul Barry McKinney |
Lifford-Stranorlar | Martin Scanlon |
Dublin City | |
Ballyfermot-Drimnagh | Vincent Jackson, Richard Murray, Dolores Webster, Ronda Sheldreck |
Ballymun-Finglas | Gavin Pepper, Jeff Gallagher, Leon Bradley, Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais |
Artane-Whitehall | John Lyons (Independent Left), Kevin Coyle, Rowan Croft |
Donaghmede | Michael Burke |
Cabra-Glasnevin | Cieran Perry, Sarah Louise Mulligan |
Clontarf | Michael Burke, Barry Heneghan |
Kimmage-Rathmines | Peter Dooley, Martin Dowling |
North Inner City | Nial Ring, Christy Burke, Malachy Steenson, Brian Garrigan, Geraldine Molloy, Anthony Shevlin, Darryl O’Callaghan |
South West Inner City | Zoe Obeimhen, Catherine McSweeney, Michael O’Flanagan, Damien Farrell, Pat Coyne |
South East Inner City | Mannix Flynn, Nick Delehanty, Nathan Hastings, Pat Coyne, Francis Rodgers |
Pembroke | Linda O’Shea Farren |
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown | |
Blackrock | Cormac Lucey, Jonathan Roe, Reji Chacko Jacob |
Dún Laoghaire | Orli Degani, Cathy Lynch |
Dundrum | Sean McLoughlin, Anne Colgan |
Glencullen-Sandyford | Michael Fleming, Roopesh Kumar Panicker, Kevin Daly |
Killiney-Shankill | Hugh Lewis, Fergus Power, Tracey Hennessey, Susan Muldoon |
Stillorgan | Deirdre Donnelly, Eliza Connolly |
Fingal County | |
Balbriggan | Tony Murphy, Grainne Maguire, John Uwhumiakpor, Aneta Laska |
Rush Lusk | Cathal Boland, Aneta Laska, Fergal O Connell |
Castleknock | |
Howth-Malahide | Jimmy Guerin, Margaret Donnellan, Rachel Ndlovu Motseta, Jamie McGlue |
Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart | Susanne Delaney, Robbie Loughlin, Shashank Chakerwarti |
Ongar | Tania Doyle |
Swords | Joe Newman, Sandra Sweetman, Darren Jack Kelly, Bernadette Wright |
South Dublin County | |
Clondalkin | Francis Timmons, Khair Ullah, Trevor Conlon, Viktor Kozyrev |
Palmerstown-Fonthill | Alan Hayes, Paul Gogarty, Shane Fitzgerald, Gavin Callaghan |
Lucan | Liona O’Toole, Paul Gogarty, Joseph Roy Kunchalakkatt, Kamal Shah |
Tallaght Central | Mick Duff, Patrick Pearse Holohan, Dave Daly |
Tallaght South | Dermot Richardson, Patrick Pearse Holohan |
Rathfarnham-Templeogue | Ronan McMahon |
Firhouse-Bohernabreena | Alan Edge, Nicholas Reddin |
Galway City | |
Galway City Central | Mike Cubbard, Margaretta D’Arcy |
Galway City East | Declan McDonnell, Terry O’Flaherty, Michael Tully, Conor Dowd |
Galway City West | Kenny Deery, Jarlath Feeney |
Galway County | |
Athenry-Oranmore | James Charity, Gabriel Cronnelly, Liam Carroll, Tomás Grealish |
Gort Kinvara | Geraldine Donohue |
Ballinasloe | Evelyn Francis Parsons |
Conamara North | Thomas Welby, Mánus Ó Conaire |
Conamara South | Tomás Ó Curraoin, PJ Ó Flatharta |
Loughrea | |
Tuam | Karey McHugh-Farag |
Kerry | |
Killarney | Maura Healy-Rae, Brendan Cronin, Niall “Botty” O’Callaghan, Martin Grady, William Leen, Dermot Mc Guckin, Natalia Krasnenkova, Iqbal Mahmud |
Listowel | Liam “Speedy” Nolan |
An Daingean/Corca Dhuibhne | |
Kenmare | Johnny Healy-Rae, Patrick Lyne, Podge Foley |
Castleisland | Jackie Healy-Rae, Michelle Keane |
Tralee | Tom McEllistrim, Eddie O’Grady (Kerry People Party) |
Kildare | |
Athy | |
Celbridge | Íde Cussen, Zhyan Phelan |
Leixlip | |
Maynooth | |
Clane | Pádraig McEvoy, Jessica McLoughlin, Sophie Roker |
Kildare | Declan Crowe |
Newbridge | James Garvin |
Naas | Seamie Moore, Hugo Magee |
Kilkenny | |
Castlecomer | Maurice Shortall |
Kilkenny | Eugene McGuinness, Noel Gerald Walsh, Toluwani Akaehomen, Jony Aza, Michael McGrath |
Callan-Thomastown | |
Piltown | |
Laois | |
Borris in Ossory-Mountmellick | James Kelly, Ollie Clooney, Kevin Drennan |
Graiguecullen-Portarlington | Ben Brennan, Aisling Moran |
Portlaoise | Pauline Flanagan, Donal Kelly, Dom Dunne, Tommy Mulligan, Bolaji Adeyanju, Noel Burke |
Leitrim | |
Ballinamore | Seán Wynne, George Heslin |
Carrick-on-Shannon | Enda Stenson, Des Guckian, Sharon Garland, Michael McManus, Keith McNamara |
Manorhamilton | James Gilmartin, Eddie Mitchell, Diarmuid McConville, Eddie Mitchell, Felim Gurn |
Limerick | |
Limerick City East | Dean Lillis, Tally Slater, Michael O’Brien |
Limerick City North | Frankie Daly, Pat O’Neill, Dean Quinn, Adam Kearney, Laura Keyes |
Limerick City West | Maria Donoghue, Shahin Reza, Alec Morrissey, Seán Lynch, Khalid Mahmood, Michael Rafferty |
Adare-Rathkeale | Robert Daly |
Cappamore-Kilmallock | Brigid Teefy, Eddie Ryan, Michelle Hayes |
Newcastle West | Jerome Scanlan, Jim Barrett |
Longford | |
Ballymahon | Gerald Farrell, Niall Dowler, Francesca Pawelczyk |
Granard | |
Longford | Dwain Schouten, Maura Greene Casey, Sadia Athar, James Quinn, Mujahid Manzoor |
Louth | |
Ardee | Jim Tenanty, Bernie Conlon, Peter Farrell,Thomas Commins, Jim Tenanty |
Drogheda Urban | Peter James Nugent |
Drogheda Rural | Declan Power, Mick Martin |
Dundalk-Carlingford | Ciarán Fisher |
Dundalk-South | Maeve Yore, Dilip Mahapatra, Seun Grace Atiroko |
Mayo | |
Ballina | Mark Duffy, Willie Nolan, Joe Faughnan, Keith Howley, Garie Beattie, Joe Doocey |
Castlebar | Michael Kilcoyne, Harry Barrett, Gerry Loftus, Stephen Kerr |
Claremorris | Patsy O’Brien, Richard Finn |
Swinford | |
Belmullet | |
Westport | |
Meath | |
Ashbourne | Amanda Smith |
Kells | David Gilroy, Cormac Corr |
Laytown-Bettystown | Geraldine Keogan, Carol Lennon |
Navan | Alan Lawes |
Ratoath | Gillian Toole, Nick Killian, Brian Fitzgerald |
Trim | Noel French |
Monaghan | |
Ballybay-Clones | |
Carrickmacross-Castleblaney | Seamus Hanratty |
Monaghan | Seamus Treanor, Paudge Connolly, Colin Walker, Paddy Grenham, Denis O’Higgins, Jimmy “Stavrous” Mee |
Offaly | |
Birr | John Leahy, Jonathan O Meara, Martin Buckley, Michael Deegan |
Edenderry | |
Tullamore | Sandy Feehan Smollen, Sean O’Brien |
Roscommon | |
Athlone (Roscommon) | Laurence Fallon, Tony Ward, Emer Kelly |
Boyle | Valerie Byrne, Micheál Frain |
Roscommon | Anthony Waldron |
Sligo | |
Ballymote-Tobercurry | Joe Queenan, Michael Clarke |
Sligo-Drumcliffe | Marie Casserly, Colm McGurran |
Sligo-Strandhill | Declan Bree, Diarmuid McConville, Finbarr Filan |
Tipperary | |
Carrick-on-Suir | Kevin O’Meara |
Cahir | Mairín McGrath, Andy Moloney, Tom Hennessy, Shane Smith, Bill Fitzgerald |
Cashel-Tipperary | Peadar O’Donnell, John P O’Heney, Liam Browne |
Clonmel | Richie Molloy, Thomas Ryan, Deirdre Dempsey |
Nenagh | Joe Hannigan, Michael O’Meara (Lowry Team), Séamus Morris |
Newport | Pamela Quirke-O’Meara (Lowry Team), David Ahern |
Roscrea-Templemore | Shane Lee (Lowry Team), Eddie Moran (Lowry Team) |
Thurles | Micheál Lowry (Lowry Team), Jim Ryan |
Waterford | |
Waterford City East | David Daniels, Declan Barry, Darren Ryan |
Waterford City South | Donall Barry, Seán Reinhardt |
Tramore-Waterford City West | Joe Conway, Joe Kelly, Blaise Hannigan |
Portlaw-Kilmacthomas | Declan Clune, Frank Conway |
Dungarvan | Seamus O’Donnell, Aaron Joyce |
Lismore | |
Westmeath | |
Athlone (Westmeath) | Kevin “Boxer” Moran, Tom Cleary |
Moate | Michael O’Brien |
Mullingar | Patrick Hussey |
Kinnegad | Noeleen Fanning |
Wexford | |
Gorey | Jimmy Fleming (Wexford Independent Alliance), Nicky Boland (Wexford Independent Alliance) |
Kilmuckridge | Mary Farrell, Paddy Kavanagh (Wexford Independent Alliance) |
Enniscorthy | John O’Rourke, Jackser Owens, Eamonn Doyle, Majella Wall (Wexford Independent Alliance), Cyril Wheelock (Wexford Independent Alliance) |
New Ross | Pat Barden (Wexford Independent Alliance), Anthony Connick, John Dwyer, Marty Murphy (Wexford Independent Alliance), Shawn Murray, Raymond Forte |
Rosslare | Ger Carthy, Jack Barden (Wexford Independent Alliance), Joe Druhan (Wexford Independent Alliance) |
Wexford | Leonard Kelly, Raymond Shannon (Wexford Independent Alliance), Michelle O’Neill (Wexford Independent Alliance), Dave Ryan (Wexford Independent Alliance) |
Wicklow | |
Arklow | Peir Leonard, Miriam Murphy, Viktoria Bodley |
Baltinglass | Gerry O’Neill, Dominic Plant, Jason Mulhall |
Bray East | Lee Donnelly, Malachaí Duddy |
Bray West | Joe Behan, Rob Carry, Colm Flood, Keith Manning |
Greystones | Tom Fortune, Stephen Stokes, Orla Finn, Charlie Keddy |
Wicklow | Mary Kavanagh, John Snell, Ciara Martin Perks, John Larkin |
I will be adding to this list as and when I come across further declarations of intentions to contest these elections on the part of other non-party candidates. This cohort of candidates often tends to be the hardest to glean information on, so this list may not be as up to date/accurate as the similar posts for the different parties.
A number of people had declared an intention to contest the elections as a non-party candidate, but later withdrew, including Jane Suffin (Boyle), Daragh O’Flaherty (Galway City Central).
Thanks to those who have helped fill in some of the missing gaps in this candidate list, including Paudie Taylor, Treasa Keegan, Paul Ryan, Patrick Matthews, Ciarán Mac Dermott, Padraig McEvoy, Paddy McKenna, David O’Leary and David Flynn.