The Daily Star Ireland
Gráinne Seoige (FF) Galway West
Since George Lee’s move from RTÉ to Leinster House, no media figure has sparked as much excitement as Gráinne Seoige. However, her political venture will be even shorter than Lee’s stint with Fine Gael. Lee, who topped the poll in a 2009 by-election, left politics after just nine months. Seoige, on the other hand, secured around 5% of the vote in Galway West, failing to match the success of her running mate, Councillor John Connelly. She was even outperformed in her Connemara stronghold by Independent Catherine Connolly.
Kate O’Connell (Ind) Dublin Bay South
Former TD Kate O’Connell’s decision to run as an Independent, announced six weeks ago, surprised many in Fine Gael. She rejected offers from the party, not wanting to be a “sweeper” for Dublin Lord Mayor James Geoghegan. Despite Simon Harris’s efforts to bring her back into the fold, O’Connell claimed there was still significant animosity towards her within the party. Her strategy didn’t pay off, as Geoghegan secured a comfortable win, and his running mate, Councillor Emma Blain, garnered more than double O’Connell’s vote.
Stephen Donnelly (FF) Wicklow
Fianna Fáil put in a strong effort to save Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, but his chances look slim. Donnelly was the sole Fianna Fáil candidate in Wicklow, despite local supporters advocating for a running mate. Micheál Martin joined him for the final day of campaigning to boost media exposure. However, Simon Harris’s large vote and Donnelly’s weak first preference tally suggest he may be one of the most notable casualties of the election. Harris’s success could open the door for his running mate, Edward Timmins, while Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats, Donnelly’s former party, is set to be re-elected comfortably.
Billy O’Shea (FG) Kerry
The outcome in Kerry will be a bitter pill for Fine Gael. With Brendan Griffin stepping down, the race saw competition among three councillors, including his cousin. Simon Harris cleared the path for All-Ireland footballer Billy O’Shea, but the campaign was criticized for its lack of cohesion. O’Shea fell over 4,000 votes short of the quota, marking a rare defeat for Fine Gael in Kerry, a constituency that has largely supported the party.
Roderic O’Gorman (Green) Dublin West
Roderic O’Gorman faced a tough challenge as he arrived at his count. Eamon Ryan’s departure from frontline politics in July handed O’Gorman a difficult task. Some believed that his leadership might boost his re-election chances, but the outcome remained uncertain. O’Gorman anticipated a tough two days to get a result, acknowledging that the Green Party hadn’t had a good day — an understatement, as he noted.
Patricia Ryan (Ind) Kildare South
Patricia Ryan, who topped the Kildare South poll in 2020 despite being on holiday, recently made news by quitting Sinn Féin and running as an Independent. She cited local party issues and a lack of support. Sinn Féin, however, claimed she left to avoid a selection battle against Councillor Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh. In the election, Ryan garnered less than 2% of the vote, while Ní Raghallaigh received about 17%.
Violet Anne Wynne (Ind) Clare
Ex-Sinn Féin TD Violet Anne Wynne has been an Independent since 2022, frequently making headlines for controversial reasons. During the campaign, the Irish Independent reported that a former assistant sought a court order for €11,500 in compensation for unfair dismissal.
