OPINION: Pre-Christmas General Election will alter political landscape in Offaly

THE political landscape in Offaly will be altered – maybe dramatically – in the forthcoming General Election which, it has been confirmed, will take place before Christmas.

Though no date has been decided on by Taoiseach Simon Harris it is likely that voters will go to the polls on Friday, November 29 next.

Mr Harris has signalled his preference for a Friday polling date and the only other such date available – Friday, December 6 – is seen as too near the festive season.

A total of 174 TDs will be elected by voters around the country – an increase of 14 on the current total due to a large jump in population.

The historic constituency of Laois/ Offaly has been split in two for the 2024 contest with each county set to elect three TDs.

The 2020 General Election returned two Offaly based Dail Deputies – Carol Nolan (Independent) and Barry Cowen (Fianna Fail). That total has since been reduced to just one TD in the existing five seater following Barry Cowen's election to the European Parliament last June.

Fine Gael has no TD in the county with then sitting Deputy, Marcella Corcoran-Kennedy, failing to be re-elected in the 2020 contest.

Though she did not win a Dail seat last time round, the Green Party's Senator Pippa Hackett is an influential figure in Government as Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture.

Neighbouring Laois will also return three TDs with the big two traditional parties – Fianna Fail and Fine Gael – looking to capitalise on Sinn Fein and Brian Stanley's recent woes.

As we go to press there are eight candidates seeking election in the Offaly three-seater.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael both have news faces in the race with Tullamore based Cllr Tony McCormack and north Offaly's Cllr Claire Murray running for the former and Kinnitty's Cllr John Clendennen flying the flag for the latter.

Another newcomer, Cllr Aoife Masterson from Tullamore – who was first elected to Offaly County Council in June's local elections – is the Sinn Fein standard bearer.

Independent TD, Carol Nolan is the only sitting TD seeking re-election while Geashill-based Minister Pippa Hackett will contest the election in the constituency for the Green Party.

Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick – who narrowly missed out on a seat when he stood for Fianna Fail in the 2020 election – caused an upset when he resigned from the party earlier this month and announced he will contest the election as an Independent candidate. Based in the Cloneyhurke area on the Laois border, Cllr Fitzpatrick has served as Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council in the past.

Also in the fray is Edenderry town based Independent Ireland councillor, Fergus McDonnell.

It is probable that more candidates will enter the contest in the coming weeks though the official campaign is likely to be a short three-week one.

Whatever the eventual outcome, at least two of the three TDs that will be returned by voters in Offaly will be new faces.
The issues which will dominate the campaign locally are likely to be housing, the cost of living and perhaps immigration, mirroring the national debate.

Half of the candidates to seek election in the three-seater are women, the highest percentage in electoral history.

Another woman, former Offaly TD, Olwyn Enright will also play a pivotal role in the election nationally with her appointment by Simon Harris as Fine Gael Director of Elections on Monday last.