First candidate declares intention to run in Limerick City at next general election

THE GENERAL election may still be almost two years away, but the Limerick City constituency has its first declared candidate.

Independent councillor Frankie Daly has launched his bid for Dáil Éireann at an event in the Strand Hotel in the city centre.

He will run under the banner of the rural Independent TDs, which will change its name shortly to reflect the fact urban candidates will join the group.

Current rural Independent TDs Richard O'Donoghue, Michael Collins and Mattie McGrath were in Limerick for the launch of Cllr Daly’s second Oireachtas attempt.

The Irish Estates man confirmed he is to run, and plans to have a formal launch in the coming months and is “aligned” with the Independent grouping, which is to become known as the Rural and Community grouping.

“It's about providing something fresh, having a united voice and being accountable to the people. We are providing an alternative,” added Cllr Daly.

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Mr O’Donoghue, who won a seat in the rural Limerick constituency at the 2020 general election, said a number of candidates will be declaring around the country for the Rural Independent group.

“We have a grouping put together of people who want to run with our group so we are looking a name change which will bring in urban and rural,” he confirmed.

Councillor Daly also ran in the 2020 general election, where he was something of a surprise package, securing 3,200 first preference votes. He was the last candidate to fail to be returned to the four-seater City constituency, after Green TD Brian Leddin pipped him.

Mr O’Donoghue believes Cllr Daly stands to benefit from any drop-off in the Green Party vote this time.

“People have seen what the Greens are doing, putting in change without infrastructure. We all have a Green agenda, but you have to be practical in putting infrastructure in to achieve it,” he said.

The summer before his first Oireachtas bid, Cllr Daly stormed to the top of the poll on the northside at the local council elections, returned with almost 400 votes to spare.

It was his second time being elected as a councillor, having first stood under the Labour banner in 2014, before becoming an Independent in 2017.

Mr O'Donoghue added: “I worked with Frankie within the local authority. He is very passionate about Limerick, the people of Limerick and the youth of Limerick as he works within the youth service.”

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The Independent TD has high aims for his grouping, hoping they have a say in the formation of the next government, and “make decisions for the whole of the country.”