BREAKING: Limerick to go to the polls later this month as Taoiseach pulls trigger on general election

LIMERICK, and the rest of Ireland is to go the polls on Friday, November 29, after Taoiseach Simon Harris set in train the 2024 general election campaign.

The Fine Gael leader confirmed this Friday lunchtime upon his return from a European summit in Budapest that he will travel to Áras an Uachtaráin to request that President Michael D Higgins dissolves the current Dáil.

He made the announcement outside Government buildings.

It is expected the request will be granted, and kick off the general election campaign which will conclude on polling day three weeks from this Friday.

Election posters have already began to spring up across Limerick city and county in readiness for the expected confirmation.

(Picture above by Adrian Butler)

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Voters across Limerick will elect seven TDs to the 34th Dail.

There are three seats to be filled in the county constituency and four in the city.

As of this Friday, 16 candidates have declared their intention to run in the Limerick City constituency. Fourteen have thrown their hat into the ring in Limerick County.

In the City, all four TDs returned in 2020 are bidding for re-election, as are the three elected in the County four years ago.

The list of declared candidates in Limerick, as of this Friday - in alphabetical order - are as follows:

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

Michelle Hayes,  Independent

Deputy Brian Leddin,  Green Party

Deputy Willie O’Dea,  Fianna Fail

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell, Fine Gael

Cllr Elisa O’Donovan, Social Democrats

Dee Ryan, Fianna Fail

Cllr Conor Sheehan,  Labour

Deputy Maurice Quinlivan,  Sinn Fein

Dean Quinn,  National Alliance

LIMERICK COUNTY (THREE SEATS)

James Barrett, Independent

Cllr Bridie Collins Fianna Fail

Joanne Collins Sinn Fein

Richie Crehan Independent

Deputy Niall Collins Fianna Fail

Laura Fahey,  People Before Profit

Rob O’Donnell,  Green Party

Deputy Richard O’Donoghue,  Independent Ireland

Deputy Patrick O’Donovan Fine Gael

Donna O’Loughlin,  Irish Freedom Party

Lorraine O’Sullivan, National Alliance

Michael Ryan,  Aontu

Cllr Noreen Stokes Fine Gael 

Gerben Uunk, Irish Animal Welfare party