77 seek election to Meath County Council

With nominations for the local elections closed, a total of 77 candidates are preparing to do battle for the 40 seats on Meath County Council.

Of those, 35 are outgoing candidates seeking re-election in the poll which takes place on 24th May.

One of them, Independent councillor, Sharon Keogan is running in two electoral areas - Laytown Bettystown where she is a sitting councillor and Ashbourne, where she narrowly missed out on a seat in 2014.

Fianna Fail is putting forward the biggest team for election with 19 candidates, while Fine Gael is fielding 17.

Sinn Fein is  running 10 candidates, while the Labour Party, which once had a sizeable showing on Meath County Council, will run just three candidates in this election.

Ireland's newest political party, Aontu, which was set up by Peadar Toibin will run five candidates, while the Social Democrats have four hopefuls in the race.

The Workers Party, Solidarity - People Before Profit, The Green Party and Direct Democracy Ireland are fielding one candidate each.

Of the 78 candidates, just 28 are women.

The Navan and Latyown Bettystown areas will be the most hotly contested with the largest number of candidates running, with 16 hopesfuls in Navan and 15 in Laytown Bettystown battling it out for seven seats in each district.

The following is the full list of candidates ......

ASHBOURNE

Bonner Joe Non-Party

Jamal Suzanne Fine Gael 

Keogan Sharon Non-Party 

Mellor Lisa Fianna Fáil

Nolan Paul Social Democrats

O' Neill Aisling Sinn Féin

O' Rourke Darren Sinn Féin

Reilly Sarah-Jane Fianna Fáil

Stillman John Fine Gael 

Tobin Alan Fine Gael 

Tormey Conor Fianna Fáil

Tuite Joseph Aontú 

 

LAYTOWN/BETTYSTOWN

Behan Tom  Fianna Fail

Connor Anthony  Direct Democracy Ireland

Corr Rob Social Democrats

Ferguson Eimear Sinn Féin

Harding Wayne  Fianna Fáil

Hoey Annie The Labour Party

Kelly Tom Non-Party

Keogan Sharon Non-Party 

Lacey William Solidarity – People Before Profit 

McKee Stephen Fianna Fáil

Meade Paddy Fine Gael 

O' Byrne Fergal Sinn Féin 

Smith Patrick Non-Party 

Tolan Sharon Fine Gael 

Whelan Peter Aontu

 

NAVAN

Adenuga Yem Fine Gael

Ball Stephen Non-Party 

Burke Sinéad Sinn Féin 

Byrne Karen Fine Gael

Deane Francis Non-Party 

Fennessy Eddie Sinn Féin 

Fitzsimons Padraig Fianna Fáil 

Forde Wayne Non-Party 

Kelly Ross Fine Gael

Lawes Alan 15 Non-Party

McGrath Amy Social Democrats

McHugh Jenny Fianna Fáil

McMenamin Séamus Green Party

Reilly Tommy Fianna Fáil Self

Thornton Madeleine Fianna Fáil

Tóibín Emer Aontú

 

RATOATH

Fitzgerald Brian Non-Party

Flanagan Bee Fine Gael

Geraghty-Smith Deirdre Fianna Fáil

Henry Seán Non-Party

Killian Nick Non-Party

Murphy Mari Fine Gael

O'Connor Gerr Fine Gael

O'Reilly Damie Fianna Fáil

O’ Riordan Fergu Non-Party

Ruairc Maria Uí Sinn Féin

Toole Gillian Non-Party

 

TRIM

Dempsey Aisling Fianna Fáil

Doran Des Aontú Self

Fox Joe Fine Gael 

French Noel Fine Gael 

Geraghty Sinéad Fianna Fáil 

Golden Trevor Non-Party 

Kelly Vera Fianna Fáil 

Lynch Caroline Sinn Féin

McElhinney Tracy The Labour Party 

Moore Ronan Social Democrats 

Souhan Niamh Fine Gael

 

KELLS

Bray Mike Fianna Fáil

Byrne Aaron The Labour Party

Cassidy Eugene Fine Gael

Devin Peter Aontú

Drew Seán Fianna Fáil

Farrelly Peter Fine Gael

Fox Oliver Fianna Fáil

Gallagher Michael Sinn Féin

Gilroy David Non-Party

Guirke Johnny Sinn Féin

McCabe Paul Fianna Fáil

McDonagh Séamus Workers' Party

Reilly Sarah Fine Gael