Elections 2024: 11 candidates look to make their mark in Adare-Rathkeale

THERE are eleven candidates all vying for a seat in the Adare-Rathkeale Municipal District.

With just six seats up for grabs and eleven names in the hat, the question is if it will be a hotly-contested race with lots of scrambling at the end, or will the old firm favourites retain their seats?

The one spanner in the works for current councillors attempting to retain their seats is that two councillors are retiring - this leaves the contest wide open in many ways.

Both Cllr Kevin Sheahan and Cllr Emmett O’Brien are not seeking re-election.

Fianna Fáil councillor and Askeaton man, Kevin Sheahan, was first elected to the council in 1985.

Cllr Emmet O’Brien was first elected in 2014. He has been outspoken about his beliefs that the new role of directly elected mayor will not hold any meaningful powers.

READ MORE: Over 4,000 new people register to vote in upcoming election

Fine Gael councillors Adam Teskey, Stephen Keary and Michael Sheahan are all hoping to retain council seats, as are Independent Cllr John O’Donoghue and Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Bridie Collins.

Fianna Fáil’s Trina O’Dea is having another go, having missed out in 2019, getting 879 votes in the final count.

New faces to the game include Non-Party Robert Daly, Fianna Fáil’s Ger Ward, Tommy Hartigan from Independent Ireland, Non- Party Richard Crehan and Sinn Féin’s Joanne Collins.

Last time around, in 2019, Adam Teskey topped the poll with 2,459 number ones. He was followed by Stephen Keary, Richard O’Donoghue, Emmett O’Brien, Kevin Sheahan and Bridie Collins.

Looking at the numbers - Emmett O’Brien secured 1,566 first preference votes in 2019, while Kevin Sheahan got 1,246 - that’s a lot of votes for two councillors whose names will not be on the ballot papers.

Their absence certainly paves the way for new blood to enter, but as for whose blood will be in the game, only the results will tell.

Municipal District of Adare-Rathkeale candidates

Seats: 6 Candidates: 11

Bridie Collins - Fianna Fáil

Joanne Collins - Sinn Féin

Richie Crehan - Non-Party

Robert Daly - Non-Party

Tommy Hartigan - Independent Ireland

Stephen Keary - Fine Gael

Trina O’Dea - Fianna Fáil

John O’Donoghue - Independent Ireland

Michael Sheahan - Fine Gael

Adam Teskey - Fine Gael

Ger Ward - Fianna Fáil