Competitive four-seater Limerick City constituency could be key for next Dáil

THE DOOR to power in the next Dail will be unlocked in constituencies like Limerick City, where the major parties are hoping to gain an extra seat to put them on the path to victory.

Four seats are up for grabs in this ultra-competitive urban constituency.

And we can expect a battle royale for the fourth and final seat here, with a number of high-profile local politicians hoping to make their breakthrough to the Dail.

Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Fine Gael have all provided their more established candidates with running mates.

No fewer than eight candidates running in the City constituency also contested the maiden election to be the first directly elected mayor - that experience clearly whetting their appetite for representative politics.

Unlike at the 2020 General Election, where candidates were campaigning in both Limerick and parts of North Tipperary, it's an all-Treaty affair this time.

The constituency is dominated by the city and its suburbs, but extends north-eastwards to the county boundary with Tipperary.

The three areas of the Premier County formerly in Limerick City - Birdhill, Kilcomenty and Newport - have been returned to Tipperary North.

Fianna Fail veteran Willie O'Dea - first elected in 1982 - will be hoping to return to the top of the poll, having sacrificed the mantle to Sinn Fein rival Maurice Quinlivan last time.

Like in 2020, Fine Gael's Minister of State, Kieran O'Donnell, is joined on the ticket by Senator Maria Byrne.

Labour councillor Conor Sheehan has his eyes on winning a seat, which had been held by the party since the days of the late Jim Kemmy, and only lost in 2020 when former Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan missed out.

If there is to be a battleground area of the City constituency, it could, arguably, be Castleconnell.

For there are three candidates on the ballot paper, based in the village.

Former chief executive of Limerick Chamber, Dee Ryan, is Mr O’Dea’s Fianna Fail running mate, having been the highest polling party candidate in last summer’s mayoral election.

Senator Paul Gavan of Sinn Fein, whose addition alongside Mr Quinlivan has raised eyebrows, is also based in the area.

And Dean Lillis, an Independent from Castleconnell is a late entry to the race.

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Kieran O’Donnell, FG, of Monaleen, has also traditionally polled very well in this part of Limerick.

Independent councillor Frankie Daly was beaten to the final seat four years ago by Green TD Brian Leddin, and both men are running once again, having also faced one another in June in the contest to become Limerick's first directly elected mayor.

Flying the flag for the Social Democrats is Cllr Elisa O'Donovan, and Cllr Sarah Beasley is representing Aontu, both candidates having contested the mayoral election.

Independent Ireland is running Esther Aherne from Patrickswell, who missed out on election to City West in the summer by a whisker.

Another candidate who missed out on a council seat, albeit in Cappamore/Kilmallock, is Glentworth Street solicitor Michelle Hayes, who is running as an Independent.

With the overcrowding crisis at University Hospital Limerick always a hot topic, Melanie Sheehan Cleary is running on behalf of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign.

She is the mother of Eve Cleary, who died in 2019, aged just 21, only hours after being discharged from University Hospital Limerick.

Elsewhere, city centre man Ruairi Fahy runs for People Before Profit, and Moyross man Dean Quinn is contesting for The Irish People.

He ran in City North at the local elections as an Independent.

LIMERICK CITY (FOUR SEATS)

Esther Aherne,  Independent Ireland

Cllr Sarah Beasley,  Aontu

Senator Maria Byrne,  Fine Gael

Melanie Cleary,  Mid-West Hospital Campaign 

Cllr Frankie Daly,  Independent

Ruairi Fahy,  People Before Profit-Solidarity

Senator Paul Gavan, Sinn Fein

Michelle Hayes,  Independent

Deputy Brian Leddin,  Green Party

Dean Lillis, Independent

Deputy Willie O’Dea,  Fianna Fail

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell, Fine Gael

Cllr Elisa O’Donovan, Social Democrats

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan,  Sinn Fein

Dean Quinn,  National Alliance

Dee Ryan, Fianna Fail

Cllr Conor Sheehan,  Labour