Election tensions are starting to ramp up
The Fine Gael team who contest the Ballina electoral area are Hugh Rouse, Jarlath Munnelly and John O'Hara. The Ballina constituency is set to be among the most intriguing.
With six months to go until the local elections, canvassing and political point-scoring will start to heat up.
There are 30 seats on Mayo County Council up for grabs and some new faces are likely to join members of the old guard in Aras an Chontae.
As it stands, 28 of the councillors elected in 2019 will all be seeking to regain their seats in 2024. Cllr Michael Smyth (Swinford) resigned his seat last year while Cllr John Cribbin (Ballyhaunis) will retire at the end of the current term.
Independent councillor Seamus Weir told the that he is still "weighing up his options" when it comes to contesting another election. The Knockmore-based councillor said he has several significant projects in the area that he is loath to walk away from but admitted he is considering a potential departure from politics.
Sinn Fein was the big story during the last general election and will be seeking to replicate that form on the local stage.
The six-seater Ballina could be one of the most interesting battlegrounds before a vote has even been cast.
If Seamus Weir does decide to exit the fray it would be a considerable shock and would open up the field to a new Knockmore area candidate or aid the emergence of a Ballina town-based hopeful.
Fianna Fáil has yet to announce its plans in Ballina having already decided its strategy in all other electoral areas. Annie May Reape will be seeking to return to the council chamber with another town candidate and Killala-based Dave Alexander is likely to join the party’s bid.
Fine Gael’s John O’Hara topped the poll in 2019 followed by Mark Duffy, Annie May Reape, Michael Loftus, Seamus Weir, and Jarlath Munnelly.
Former Fianna Fáil councillor Willie Nolan contested the 2019 elections as an Independent and is throwing his hat in the ring again. He will be up against a former colleague in Sinn Fein’s Una Morris.
Ballina man Hugh Rouse completes the Fine Gael ticket in the area. A former President of Ballina Chamber of Commerce, the needs of the business community are likely to be a key feature in his campaign.
There are just three seats up for grabs in Belmullet with some heavy hitters seeking re-election.
Gerry Coyle was the biggest vote-getter in the constituency in 2019 and he will be joined on the ballot by outgoing Fianna Fáil councillors Sean Carey and Achill’s Paul McNamara.
Sinn Féin have selected a formidable candidate in Belmullet woman Rosaleen Lally. Well-known Tiernaur-based sheep farmer Pat Chambers has been added to the Fine Gael ticket in the electoral area.
Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are sticking with the 2019 teams in Castlebar. Ger Deere, Cyril Burke, and Donna Sheridan will run again for Fine Gael while Al McDonnell, Blackie Gavin, and Martin McLoughlin are seeking re-election for Fianna Fáil.
Habitual poll topper Michael Kilcoyne will be looking to repeat the feat in the seven-seat Castlebar constituency.
Former Labour town councillor Harry Barrett is chomping at the bit to return to local politics as an Independent.
Sinn Féin has altered its strategy with nurse and union representative Donna Hyland now its sole candidate following the decision by Tony Geraghty to bow out from the race.
People Before Profit’s Joe Daly will be expected to make another run after falling short in 2019 while Aidan Browne is attempting to win a seat for the Social Democrats. The Lahardane film and TV producer was involved in the GP retention campaign in his area.
The retirement from politics of Fine Gael’s John Cribbin leaves a considerable void in the electoral area.
The party hope new candidate Alma Gallagher can step into the breach. The Ballyhaunis woman, a manager with the social housing association Clár ICH, was selected by Fine Gael in May.
Fine Gael headed the polls in 2019 thanks to Patsy O’Brien’s stellar performance. However, the Robeen man was dumped from the party and contested the Seanad elections as an Independent. O’Brien will be aiming for a similar votes tally in 2024 even without the party machine behind him.
Richard Finn (Ind), Damien Ryan (FF), Tom Connolly (FG) and Michael Burke (FG) will run again in 2024 while Stephen Nolan (FF) and Aontú’s Paul Lawless will be looking to muscle in on the action.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smyth’s decision to step away from politics saw Kiltimagh native Adrian Forkan co-opted into his vacant seat earlier this year.
Another new face on the doorsteps will be Antoinette Peyton. Fine Gael has been without a Swinford seat since Joe Mellett lost out in 2014 and Ms Peyton is aiming to redress that situation.
Sinn Féin’s Gerry Murray headed the poll in the constituency in 2019 and has been mentioned as a possible general election candidate for the party. The party has yet to select a running mate for Murray.
Neil Cruise (FG) and John Caulfield (FF) are aiming for re-election in the four-seat constituency.
Fianna Fáil is running just a single candidate in the four-seater with outgoing councillor Brendan Mulroy selected.
There have been murmurs that the party missed a trick in not bringing Louisburgh-based Chris Maxwell back into the fold.
Sinn Féin has put forward Karen Gallagher to battle for a Westport berth.
Fine Gael’s Peter Flynn will have a running mate in Kiara Keogh. From a well-known Westport family, Ms Keogh is also being strongly backed by Deputy Michael Ring.
Independents Christy Hyland and John O’Malley are back on the ballot paper where they will be joined by two new names in John Loftus (Aontú) and Peter Nolan (Green Party).
