Fine Gael completes its ticket for next year’s local elections in Limerick city
FINE GAEL is to run three candidates in each of the three Limerick city wards in next summer’s local elections.
It comes after local party bosses ran selection conventions for the City East, City West and City North areas. Fine Gael is defending six seats in the metropolitan district and all but one of its sitting councillors will be seeking re-election.
Former mayor Michael Sheahan has transferred from City East - he had lived in Monaleen - to Askeaton, and will contest the Adare-Rathkeale area as a result.
In City East, a sprawling constituency which covers places as far apart as Southill, Old Cork Road, Annacotty and Montpelier, Fine Gael hopes will lie with outgoing councillors Sarah Kiely, Janesboro and Michael Murphy of Castleconnell.
In this local authority term, Fine Gael has been without a councillor from Castletroy, which is generally considered the power base of Minister of State and local TD Kieran O’Donnell.
Across the River Shannon in City North, Councillor Olivia O'Sullivan has been re-selected, with the Caherdavin woman hopeful of holding onto her seat in what has traditionally been a strong area for the party.
She will be joined by Shelbourne Road man Richard Delaney, a well-known driving instructor and part-time adult education teacher.
Also on the Fine Gael ticket in City North - an area which also covers Corbally and Garryowen across the water - is Mark Spain.
Finally, in City East, which stretches from the city centre to Patrickswell and Clarina, former mayor Daniel Butler will be hopeful of being elected for a third straight time.
Son of the late Richard Butler, Cllr Butler missed out on topping the poll by just 10 votes in 2019 and secured the third highest number of votes in the metropolitan district.
He was proposed to go forward again at the convention by former Finance Minister Michael Noonan.
Cllr Butler is joined on Fine Gael’s ticket by 25-year-old Daniel McSweeney, who is hoping to be returned for a second time. He’s currently serving as Deputy Mayor.
Ballinacurra man Michael MacCurtain will join the duo and is hoping to be elected to City West.
He works as the skillnet manager in Limerick Chamber, with his maternal grandfather Ned O’Sullivan setting up former city shoe shop O’Sullivan’s over 70 years ago.