Who is running in Mayo ahead of Taoiseach's expected general election announcement?

The arrival of veteran Sinn Féin councillor Gerry Murray into the general election race in Mayo means there are now 14 candidates seeking five Dáil seats. 

It is widely expected that Taoiseach Simon Harris will announce the general election later this week with Friday, November 29, mooted as the most likely date. The contest in Mayo has never been more open with only three outgoing TDs, meaning there are two vacant seats. 

Castlebar-based Fine Gael Minister of State Alan Dillon will contest his second general election having successfully won the seat of former Taoiseach Enda Kenny in 2020.

Keira Keogh, who was unsuccessful in the Local Elections in June, will be hoping to take Michael Ring’s old seat in Westport while Ballina Municipal District councillor Mark Duffy, formerly an Independent, has joined forces with Fine Gael and will be aiming to build on his excellent performance in the recent Local Elections. The Fine Gael ticket is completed by Mayo-Roscommon Hospice CEO Martina Jennings from Hollymount.

Ballina-based Minister of State Dara Calleary and Senator Lisa Chambers from Castlebar are the Fianna Fáil candidates. Minister Calleary was first elected in 2007 while Senator Chambers previously served as a TD from 2016 to 2020.

Sinn Féin is now also going with a two-candidate strategy after Cllr Murray was added to its ticket at the weekend, joining outgoing TD Rose Conway-Walsh. 

Aontú Cllr Paul Lawless, from Knock, is running in a general election for the second time after an unsuccessful run in 2020, although he was elected to Mayo Co Council last June.

After topping the poll in Westport in the Local Elections, Louisburgh Cllr Chris Maxwell will run for Independent Ireland while Castlebar-based Joe Daly will represent People Before Profit. Micheál ‘Boxty’ O’Connell from Erris is running for the Green Party, having also represented the party in the Local Elections. 

There are two Independent candidates on the ballot in Mayo thus far - Cllr Patsy O’Brien from Robeen, formerly of Fine Gael, topped the poll in the Claremorris Municipal District last June, while Stephen Kerr, from Breaffy, narrowly missed out on a seat in the Castlebar area in the Local Elections.