More candidates added to the ballot papers

There’s been a flurry of candidates chosen across Cork’s five constituencies over the past couple of weeks to run in the next general election.

The most recent included Fianna Fáil putting forward An Tánaiste Michael Martin and Cllr Seamus McGrath in the South-Central constituency. Cllr McGrath is the brother of Michael McGrath, now EU Commisioner designate for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law who served as Minister for Finance from December 2022 to June 2024.

Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire of Sinn Féin is running again in this now five seater constituency as well as Labour Cllr Laura Harmon, Social Democrats Cllr Pádraig Rice, Anna Daly for Aontú and former city councillor who decided not to the contest the last local election Mick Finn. The Green Party is running Monica Oikeh while Fine Gael is set to run three people. Councillors Úna McCarthy and Shane O’Callaghan were picked several weeks ago with Senator Jerry Buttimer added to the ticket last week. It comes as Deputy Simon Coveney announced he was leaving politics earlier this year.

As for Cork North-Central, Sinn Féin has chosen Deputy Thomas Gould and Cllr Joe Lynch. Fianna Fáil has chosen Deputy Pádraig O’Sullivan to run in this five seater while Fine Gael has picked Deputy Colm Burke. Cllr Ken O’Flynn is running for Independent Ireland, Derek Blighe for Ireland First and Finian Toomey for Aontú. Councillors John Maher and Eoghan Kenny are both running for Labour and Cllr Oliver Moran for the Green Party.

Meanwhile in Cork East, Independent Ireland has picked Kathryn Bermingham to run and the Green Party has chosen Clíona O’Halloran while Mona Stromsoe will run for Aontú in this four seat constituency. Sinn Féin will be represented by Deputy Pat Buckley while Fianna Fáil will have two candidates running - Deputy James O’Connor and Cllr Deirdre O’Brien. Cllr Noel McCarthy and Mark Stanton, son of retiring Deputy David Stanton, will run for Fine Gael. Cllr Liam Quaide will run for Social Democrats.

The three-seater Cork North-West area will have deputies Michael Moynihan and Aindrias Moynihan running for Fianna Fáil. Becky Kealy is the choice for Aontú while Sinn Féin is running Nicole Ryan. Councillors John Paul O’Shea and Michael Creed are running for Fine Gael.

Another three-seater constituency is Cork South-West. Social Democrats leader Deputy Holly Cairns will run again as will Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan for Fianna Fáil. Fine Gael are fielding two candidates here, Senator Tim Lombard and Cllr Noel O’Donovan.

Evie Nevin is Labour’s choice while Claire O’Callaghan will run for Sinn Féin.