Carrick-on-Suir Local Electoral Area's seven candidates

Fianna Fáil candidate Cllr Kieran Bourke

Fianna Fáil’s Kieran Bourke from Carrick-on-Suir is a full-time councillor since 2008 and is outgoing Cathaoirleach of Carrick Municipal District.

The provision of more housing, highlighting inadequate garda numbers, easing planning restrictions on one-off houses and a new bus stop for Carrickbeg are among his priority issues as a candidate.

The poor quality of water services in Carrick, parking issues in Carrick, opposition to modular housing for foreign nationals, annoyance at constant roadworks in Carrick but also delight at road and infrastructure upgrades in the town are among the issues voters have raised with him.

Labour candidate Michael 'Chicken' Brennan

Killenaule native and Labour party candidate Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan is a hospitality/event manager and works with his wife Helen in running Clonacody House near Fethard.

His campaign priorities are increasing affordable housing, upgrading roads and water services, mental health awareness, better recreational/ sports facilities, youth employment and tackling the causes of anti-social behaviour.

The condition of roads, need for more housing, better access to health services, immigration, speeding traffic on village/town approach roads and anti-social behaviour are issues voters are highlighting with him.

Sinn Féin candidate Cllr David Dunne

Sinn Féin candidate David Dunne from Carrick-on-Suir is a councillor since 2014 and this is his fifth council election.

His priorities are campaigning for better health, housing, roads and water services for his hometown and communities in the wider Carrick Municipal District. Restoring services to the former St Brigid’s District Hospital in Carrick remains high on his agenda.

Issues voters are raising with him on the canvas include the housing shortage, footpath repairs and plans to cut parking on Carrick’s Main Street. Immigration isn’t being raised on the doorsteps as much as he expected in the campaign.

Fine Gael candidate Cllr Mark Fitzgerald

Fine Gael’s Mark Fitzgerald from Cloneen is the youngest Carrick LEA candidate and is a councillor since 2019.

Cllr Fitzgerald, who helps with running his family’s pub, The Thatch in Cloneen, says his priorities, if re-elected will be to lobby for more funding for rural roads, promote tourism in the district, campaign for extra public transport services and supportthe district’s rural businesses and farmers.

Housing is the biggest issue for town voters he has met on the canvas while improving the condition of roads and traffic calming measures to slow down motorists in villages are the main issues he is coming across in rural communities.

Fianna Fáil candidate Cllr Imelda Goldsboro

Fianna Fáil’s Imelda Goldsboro from Ballingarry is a full-time councillor since 2014.

The mother of three teenage children says her priorities if re-elected will be to work for supports and services for the elderly and vulnerable in rural areas, secure government funding for community projects, advocate for positive mental health and continue her voluntary work with groups like Ballingarry Tidy Towns and Community Café, Make a Change Initiative and community development groups.

In rural areas, she says the big election issues with voters are the poor roads and decline of services in villages. Housing is the main issue in the towns.

Irish Freedom Party candidate Martin Murphy

Martin Murphy, who lives in Mullinahone, is a candidate for the Irish Freedom Party. The father-of-three works in facilities and soft services management subcontracting for a Clonmel based multinational.

If elected, his priorities will be ending what he describes as the “asylum scam”, securing state funded modular homes for young Irish families, protecting rural Ireland, the traditional family and Irish heritage and services to tackle the mental health and drug crises our youth face.

He says immigration and housing, particularly the difficulty young adults face getting on the property ladder are the big issues with voters.

Independent candidate Cllr Kevin O'Meara

Mullinahone native Kevin O’Meara who retained his late father Eddie’s seat in the 2019 local elections, is seeking re-election to the council as an Independent.

The IT manager says supporting jobs and better housing, roads, health and education services will be his top priorities if re-elected.

He says on the doorsteps, voters recognise there has been progress in improving rural roads but there is still more work needed. Difficulties securing planning for rural homes is an issue and people wishing to live in villages like Grangemockler and The Commons are being let down by inadequate water and sewerage infrastructure, he says.