Elections 2024: Nineteen candidates in the running on the northside
Corbally could be key battleground in the only all-urban district
NINETEEN candidates are vying for seven seats in City North, which is the only area located completely in the urban area.
The ward embraces all sides of city life from North Circular Road to Moyross Coonagh to Caherdavin, St Mary’s Park, Garryowen and Corbally.
Five years ago, there was a huge turnover of seats, following the retirement of three high-profile councillors.
It was Independent councillor Frankie Daly who topped the poll with a huge first preference vote of 1,861, with Brian Leddin taking the second seat for the Green Party.
It was a case of roles reversed six months later with Mr Leddin taking the last Dail seat in Limerick City at the 2020 general election, leaving Cllr Daly to just miss out.
Following Mr Leddin’s election to the Oireachtas, the Green Party co-opted Slovenian national Sasa Novak, who lives in Mayorstone, and she will be hoping to successfully defend her seat.
Another co-opted councillor, Island Road man Tom Collopy of Sinn Fein will also be hoping to be elected in his own right.
He joined the council after the departure of John Costelloe in 2022, and will run alongside Caherdavin’s Sharon Benson and Tanya Dunworth from Thomondgate.
Corbally could be key a battleground area in the northside constituency.
Three candidates are located in the suburb: the aforementioned Cllr Daly, Fine Gael’s Mark Spain and Adam Kearney, Independent.
Cllr Conor Sheehan, elected on his first attempt for Labour in 2019, used to live in the area. Caherdavin’s Olivia O’Sullivan will be hoping to be returned for Fine Gael - she’s running alongside Shelbourne Road driving instructor Richard Delaney and Mr Spain.
Veteran Fianna Fail councillor Kieran O’Hanlon of Rhebogue will become father of the council if he’s returned, having first been elected back in 1991.
His running mate is Suzzie O’Deniyi, who hopes to become the first black woman elected in Limerick.
One of the surprise packages of the 2019 election was Moyross Independent Dean Quinn, who saw off 12 other candidates before being eliminated on the penultimate count. He’s hoping to get a seat this time round.
Also hoping to make a breakthrough this year is Clonmacken-based Independent Pat O’Neill.
Back in 2019 as a Fianna Fail candidate he was the last person to fail to secure a seat, losing out to Cllr Benson.
Limerick City North candidates
Seats: 7 Candidates: 19
Sarah Beasley - Aontú
Sharon Benson - Sinn Féin
Ruth Clarke - Independent Ireland
Tom Collopy - Sinn Féin
Frankie Daly - Non-party
Richard Delaney - Fine Gael
Tanya Dunworth - Sinn Féin
Ruairí Fahy - People Before Profit - Solidarity
Shane Hickey-O’Mara - Social Democrats
Adam Kearney - Non-Party
Laura Keyes - No party listed
Sasa Novak Uí Chonchúir - Green Party / Comhaontas Glas
Suzzie O’Deniyi - Fianna Fáil
Kieran O’Hanlon - Fianna Fáil
Pat O’Neill - Non-party
Olivia O’Sullivan - Fine Gael
Dean Quinn - Non-party
Conor Sheehan - Labour Party
Mark Spain - Fine Gael