Listing of Every Registered MEP Candidate in European Elections & Breakdown of each constituency race.
Midlands North-West - 28 Candidates - 5 Seats
Summary
Territorially the largest constituency and also has the highest number of declared candidates with 28 in the running. 15 Candidates fit loosely under the umbrella of independent or non establishment parties. Name recognition will be key on such a stacked ballot paper. I’ve split the candidates of all constituencies into 3 categories:
Incumbents
establishment party candidates
Independent/Non establishment parties.
Fianna Fail adopting a three candidate policy attempting to win one seat with candidates strategically placed around the constituency.
Ming Flanagan and Maria Walsh seats are definitely up for grabs. Sinn Fein likely to hold existing seat and possibly add one. John Waters , Peadar Toibin, and Peter Casey benefit from high name recognition through-out the constituency. All require fairly high 1st preference vote tallies to avoid the carnage of the early eliminations and to benefit from available transfers. Waters likely to be very transfer friendly I would have thought.
Dark Horse: Nina Carberry. Hugely popular retired National Hunt Jockey and might scrape a seat at the expense of incumbent Maria Walsh.
Incumbents
Maria Walsh, Fine Gael: Incumbent MEP for Midlands-North-West
Chris MacManus, Sinn Féin: Incumbent MEP for Midlands-North-West
Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent: Incumbent MEP for Midlands-North-West
Establishment Candidates:
Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil: TD for Laois-Offaly
Niall Blaney, Fianna Fáil: Senator in Donegal
Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fáil: Leader of the Seanad and Senator in Mayo
Nina Carberry, Fine Gael: Farmer and ex-professional jockey
Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Féin: MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Peadar Tóibín, Aontú: TD for Meath East
Pauline O’Reilly, Green Party: Senator in Galway West
Fergal Landy, Labour Party: Social Worker
Brian O’Boyle, People Before Profit-Solidarity: Lecturer
Rory Hearne, Social Democrats: Academic and housing expert
Independent and New Party Candidates:
John Waters, Independent: Writer
Dr. Gerry Waters, Independent: Medical Doctor, GP
Peter Casey, Independent: Businessman
Saoirse McHugh, Independent: Digital campaigner
Michelle Smith, Independent: Accountant
Stephen Garland, Independent: Event manager
Daniel Pocock, Independent: Software and AI engineer
Charlotte Keegan, Independent: Sports psychologist, songwriter and artist
Carolyn Fahy, Party for Animal Welfare: Carer
Ciaran Mullooly, Independent Ireland: Former RTÉ journalist
Anthony Cahill, The Irish People: Engineer
Hermann Kelly, The Irish Freedom Party: European Parliamentary Assistant
Margaret Alacoque Maguire, Ireland First: Property Developer
James Reynolds, The National Party: Farmer
Justin Barrett, The National Party: Accountant
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Ireland South – 5 seats - 23 Candidates
Summary:
Another huge constituency geographically but with a smaller field than Midlands - North-west. Mick Wallace is probably the only incumbent reasonably assured of his seat. Possibly Sean Kelly too given his GAA ties. It would be a major surprise if Sinn Féin didn’t pick up at least one seat. I believe Fianna Fáil have made an error in choosing the former RTE presenter Cynthia Ni Mhurchú as a candidate. A weak list of establishment party candidates leaves the possibility open that two independent/ non-establishment candidates might have a shot in this constituency. Derek Blighe, Michael McNamara have constituency wide name recognition, I feel. A lot will depend again on who tops the “ independent/non establishment “ poll and is transfer friendly. McNamara likely to shade Blighe in the latter department.
Dark Horse: Una McGurk. The barrister’s work to tease apart the massive problems in both the Irish Hate Speech legislation & the proposed EU Migration pact have been well received on digital platforms. If she has a good on the ground campaign team and digital virality translates to votes I feel she might have a shot at gaining the fifth seat.
Incumbents:
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil: Incumbent MEP for Ireland South
Grace O’Sullivan, Green Party: Incumbent MEP for Ireland South
Seán Kelly, Fine Gael: Incumbent MEP for Ireland South
Mick Wallace, Independent: Incumbent MEP for Ireland South
Establishment Candidates:
Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin: TD for Carlow-Kilkenny
Cian Prendiville, People Before Profit-Solidarity: Magazine editor
Paul Gavan, Sinn Féin: Senator in Limerick
Niamh Hourigan, Labour Party: Sociologist
Susan Doyle, Social Democrats: Solicitor
Patrick Murphy, Aontú: CEO of Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation
John Mullins, Fine Gael: Businessman, former CEO of Bord Gáis
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Fianna Fáil: Former RTÉ presenter
Independent and New Party Candidates:
Una McGurk, Independent: Barrister
Michael Leahy, Irish Freedom Party: Architect
Derek Blighe, Ireland First: Bricklayer
Eddie Punch, Independent: Former chief of the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association
Christopher V.S. Doyle, Independent: Engineer
Mary Fitzgibbon, Independent: Nursing lecturer
Lorna Bogue, Rabhartas Glas: Councillor for Cork City Council
Ciarán O’Riordan, Independent: Home Maker
Graham De Barra, Independent: Human Rights Campaigner
Ross Lahive, The Irish People: Carpenter
Michael McNamara, Independent: TD for Clare
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Dublin candidates – 4 seats - 23 Candidates
Summary:
Hard to predict. Dublin feels like a different country now. Clare Daly is a shoe-in, I would have thought, and as much as it pains me to say it, Sinn Fein likely to pick up a seat in the capital too. Will be interesting to see how Malachy Steenson polls given his high profile over the last year on the protest front in East Wall and elsewhere. Same goes for Phillip Dwyer as both would have good name recognition in the working class areas of the city. There is a woke vote in Dublin that cannot be discounted and which is likely to translate into at least one seat. Who gets it is anyone’s guess.
Dark Horse: Niall Boylan. Late to the party but hit the ground running. Smart social media. Benefits from access to a radio platform on Classic Hits daily. One of the few on-air personality raising issues over the last year or two. A bridge to normie-land, I guess.
Incumbents:
Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil: MEP for Dublin
Ciarán Cuffe, Green Party: MEP for Dublin
Clare Daly, Independent: MEP for Dublin
Establishment Candidates:
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael: Senator for Dublin
Lynn Boylan, Sinn Féin: Senator for Dublin
Bríd Smith, People Before Profit-Solidarity: TD for Dublin South-Central
Aodhán Ó Riordáin, Labour Party: TD for Dublin Bay North
Daithí Doolan, Sinn Féin: Councillor for Dublin City Council
Sinéad Gibney, Social Democrats: Former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
Aisling Considine, Aontú, Primary School Teacher
Independent and New Party Candidates:
Stephen O’Rourke, Independent: Scientist
Brendan Ogle, Independent: Trade Union Official
Malachy Steenson, Independent: Solicitor
Conor Murphy, Independent: Student
Dr. Umar Al-Qadr, Independent: Businessman and Muslim Cleric
Eamonn Murphy, Independent: Counsellor
Robin Cafolla, Rabhartas Glas: Software engineer
Niall Boylan, Independent Ireland: Radio Broadcaster
Andy Heasman, The Irish People: Roofer
Diarmuid Ó Conaráin, Irish Freedom Party: Handyman
Philip Dwyer, Ireland First: Student
Patrick Quinlan, The National Party: Field Sales Representative
Rebecca Barrett, The National Party: Primary School Teacher
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Thanks Gerry, that's very interesting and hopefully useful. My dream team would be Waters, McGurk and Heasman, and because I'm an optimist, I'll take Cahill, Blighe and Dwyer as well. At least that's who I'll be lighting the Blessed Candle for on polling day.
It's a pity there isn't another John Waters like candidate for the Dublin region to vote for. The midlands constituency are so fortunate to have him as a candidate. The most intellectual free thinking person in the public arena that I know who cares for Irish culture and heritage that is under attack.