BREAKING: Limerick to go to the polls later this month as Taoiseach pulls trigger on general election
Three-week campaign set to get under way as Simon Harris visits Áras an Uachtaráin
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.
(Picture above by Adrian Butler)
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
John Hill, Irish Freedom Party
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, Irish People 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, The Irish People Alliance
Michael Ryan, Aontu
Cllr Noreen Stokes Fine Gael
Gerben Uunk, Irish Animal Welfare party