Sinn Féin ‘aiming to quadruple its numbers on local authority’ in Limerick

SINN FEIN TD Maurice Quinlivan says his party is aiming to quadruple the number of councillors it has after the next election.

At present, the party has three council members - Sharon Benson and Tom Collopy in City North, and PJ Carey in Cappamore/Kilmallock.

But, he told the Limerick Leader, he is looking to increase that four-fold.

“We are in this to win it. Our councillors are working really hard on the ground and are well connected in their local communities. They’ve been out canvassing since September and October, and been getting a really good response on the doors. We’d be confident there’s no reason all those can’t be elected,” he said.

Mr Quinlivan, who topped the poll in the City at the last general election, is to seek election himself as Limerick’s first executive mayor.

He is bullish about his chances, saying: “I think we are on course to do that if we run the campaign properly.”

Sinn Fein in Limerick has already confirmed it will run seven candidates across the six council constituencies at June’s elections.

But more are expected to be added, with Mr Quinlivan saying a third candidate will be added on the city’s northside, with additional candidates in Cappamore/Kilmallock and the Newcastle West districts.

At the last election in 2019, Sinn Fein ran seven candidates, but only returned with two councillors, down from its 2014 high of six.

Mr Quinlivan also confirmed that at the general election, there will be a two-candidate strategy in Limerick City, with one running in the rural Limerick constituency.

Joanne Collins, who is seeking council election in Adare-Rathkeale has already been selected as the party’s Dail candidate.

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If Mr Quinlivan is elected as mayor, Sinn Fein will face selecting one new candidate to run in a potential by-election or two for a general election.

He acknowledged there is concern in the party over this.

But, he added: “I would be very confident in the people we have in the party locally, that the talent pool is there. There are a lot of women, a lot of younger people, a lot of people from diverse backgrounds.”