Meath East Decides: Interviews and Profiles of all the candidates in the new four-seat constituency
EMER TÓIBÍN
(Aontú)
While Aontú's Emer Tóibín was elected on the first count in the recent local elections in the Navan area, she will not have the benefit of the vast majority of these votes on 29th November as she eyes up a seat in Meath East.
She openly acknowledges the challenges of running in a constituency away from her municipal district base where she comfortably retained her Meath County Council seat for a second term in June. Tóibín does, however, live in Meath East between Walterstown and Kentstown and said she has done a lot of representations in that area and is "optimistic" on her chances in the now four-seat constituency, saying she would be "giving it her best shot". READ ON...
SIVAKUMAR MURUGADOSS
(Independent)
Ratoath physio who wants to be the face for change
Having run as an independent candidate in the Ashbourne electoral area in June's local elections, he has decided to throw his hat in the ring in the Meath east constituency. READ ON...
MARIA WHITE
(Sinn Fein)
'For every TD in the Dail, I believe housing has to be the priority'
Education, transport, housing and community facilities are the top priority issues for Sinn Fein Cllr Maria White should she be elected as a TD for the Meath East area.
White who was elected to Meath County Council in Laytown/Bettystown area in the local elections is principal of Scoil Olibheir Naofa in Laytown. READ ON...
JOE BONNER
(Independent)
Poll topper Bonner keeps community ‘at the heart of every decision’
Independence in politics “isn’t a limitation but a strength” that's according to general election candidate and Ashbourne Cllr Joe Bonner who is vying for a seat in Meath East.
With over 20 years of experience in local government, Bonner says that being free from the constraints of party influence, allows him to focuses solely on "delivering tangible results for his community." READ ON ...
CAROLINE O'REILLY
(Fianna Fail)
'Politics is fighting people's corners where they are not getting what they should'
What a difference a year can make. And what a hectic year that has been for Cllr Caroline O'Reilly who only entered politics this time last year following the sudden death of her cousin, Damien O'Reilly and now finds herself on the ballot paper in the Meath East constituency on 29th November. READ ON...
SHARON TOLAN
(Fine Gael)
'You can't just wait for somebody else to do it, you need people power to prove the need'
“I HAVE always believed in people power” says Fine Gael councillor for Laytown/Bettystown and Cathaoirleach of Meath Co Council Sharon Tolan makes when describing her tenure as a local representative for the last decade, a statement that carries weight considering her journey into politics started with the mother of three campaigning for a new primary school in Laytown. READ ON...
GILLIAN TOOLE
(Independent)
'If communities are well resourced, everything else falls into place.
"FrustRation rather than ambition" is what independent councillor Gillian Toole says prompted her to run for election in Meath East where she will be hoping to secure the county's first independent seat in Dáil Éireann.
A councillor for ten years, Toole says her decision to run was borne out of frustration at not being able to do more at council level, adding that a lot of the suggestions she put forward would require quite simple changes in legislation which they can't do. READ ON...
CLARA MCCORMACK
(People Before Profit)
Standing up for the ‘locked out’ generation
A YOUNG general election candidate says she is part of the "locked-out generation of people" who see "no future" for themselves in this country thanks to previous governments.
25-year-old People Before Profit candidate for Meath East Clara McCormack is a socialist campaigner and community worker who wants to be a part of change for the island of Ireland. READ ON...
RUADHAIN BONHAM
(Green Party)
Supporting climate action during school days spurred young Green on to get into politics
A YOUNG General candidate for Meath East has told of how taking part in a climate movement during his time in school inspired him to become involved in politics.
23-year-old Ruadhain Bonham (Green Party) was one of the many students around the world that got involved in #FridaysForFuture a youth-led and -organised movement that began in 2018, after a then 15-year-old Greta Thunberg and other young activists sat in front of the Swedish parliament every schoolday for three weeks, to protest against the lack of action on the climate crisis. READ ON...
EILISH BALFE
(Labour)
‘Gender balance in the Dáil is essential’
Meath East general election candidate Eilish Balfe is calling for greater equality in politics.
The Labour candidate has run the local community early service in Ratoath for eight Years and is an activist for Siptu supporting 'A New Deal' for the early years sector.
Balfe is passionate about quality in politics saying that it is a "shocking" fact that only one of the six Meath TDs is a woman. READ ON...
DARREN O'ROURKE
(SInn Fein)
‘We are in the eye of the storm in the housing crisis in Meath East’
Improvements in Garda numbers, transport, housing and access to GPs are among some of the issues sitting Sinn Fein TD Darren O'Rourke is pledging to deliver if the gets re elected to the Dáil.
These problems are not unfamiliar to any other part of the county or the country for that matter, however some of these challenges have been at the forefront of Meath East communities in a very real way in recent months and years, something O'Rourke says he is keen to tackle. READ ON...
THOMAS BYRNE
(Fianna Fail)
'Meath has made lots of progress but I think that we can do more’
"Delivering facilities for local communities" is what has driven Fianna Fail TD Thomas Byrne over his 17 year career in politics.
The Minister of State for at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media served as a member of Dáil Éireann was first elected as a TD in 2007, but lost his seat in the 2011 election. READ ON...
HELEN MCENTEE
(Fine Gael)
‘My greatest desire as a politician is to make the lives of my constituents better’
Eleven years on from her first election to Dáil Eireann in the 2013 by election, Helen McEntee is among the government's most senior members.
As Minister for Justice, she has a busy portfolio, and has taken a strong stance against violence against women and hate crime. READ ON...