Eleven candidates to battle it out for three Offaly seats in general election
Voters will go to the polls in Offaly on Friday next, November 29, to elect three TDs from a field of eleven candidates.
The new three-seat Offaly constituency severs the county's long political connection with Laois
Nominations for the general election closed on Saturday last, with the date for withdrawal elapsing at noon on Monday.
The final list of candidates includes one outgoing TD, Independent Carol Nolan, and one outgoing senator, the Green Party's Pippa Hackett.
In addition, Fianna Fáil is fielding two candidates Cllr Tony McCormack and Cllr Claire Murray. Fine Gael and Sinn Féin have one each, Cllr John Clendennen and Cllr Aoife Masterson, respectively, while Independent Ireland, Aontú and People Before Profit-Solidarity also field a single candidate each, Cllr Fergus McDonnell, Maureen Ward and Keishia Taylor.
There are two other independents, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick and Mike Boylan.
Voting takes place from 7am to 10pm at 111 polling stations across the county.
The election count will be held at St Brendan's Community School, in Birr, and it's likely that the destination of the three seats may be much clearer by Saturday night.
The full list of candidates in alphabetical order is below:
- Mike Boylan, Independent, Main St., Banagher, Self-Employed.
- John Clendennen, Fine Gael, Kinnitty, Birr, Self-Employed & Public Representative.
- Eddie Fitzpatrick, Independent, Benfield, Cloneyhurke, Portarlington, Farmer.
- Pippa Hackett, Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, Geashill, Tullamore, Senator & Farmer.
- Aoife Masterson, Sinn Féin, Spollanstown Wood, Tullamore, Public Representative.
- Tony McCormack, Fianna Fáil, Daingean Road, Tullamore, Self Employed.
- Fergus McDonnell, Independent Ireland, Gilroy Avenue, Edenderry, School Transport Driver.
- Claire Murray, Fianna Fáil, Villa Shalom, Clonmore, Edenderry, Nurse.
- Carol Nolan, Independent, The Curragh, Cadamstown, Birr, Public Representative.
- Keishia Taylor, People Before Profit – Solidarity, Solidarity, Thomas St, Dublin, Researcher.
- Maureen Ward, Aontú, Chancery Walk, Tullamore, Foster Carer.