Helen McEntee will top the Poll in Meath-East by-election with Fianna Fail’s Byrne taking Silver ahead of Sinn Fein’s New kid on the Block O’Rourke who will take Bronze
Helen McEntee - Fine Gael
Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee is contesting the seat her father held until he died last year. Ms McEntee completed a degree in Economics, Politics and Law in DCU and then went on to complete a masters in Media and Communication. Her biography describes her as having worked with her father in Meath East and in the Department of Agriculture, when he became Minister of State.There are a total of 11 candidates for the Meath East by-electionn, which takes place on 27 March.
The death of Fine Gael TD and Minister of State Shane McEntee last December cast a pall over the constituency.
The popular deputy from Castletown was immersed in community life long before he was elected in a by-election in 2005.
His 26-year-old daughter Helen is one of the candidates seeking election when voters go to the polls next Wednesday.
Even though Fine Gael and Labour won a combined 62% of the vote in the 2011 General Election, a win for the Government is far from guaranteed.
The task facing Labour candidate Eoin Holmes seems particularly daunting as his party’s support is falling, according to the latest national opinion polls.
Indeed, those same polls suggest one clear thing; Fianna Fáil is now the party with the greatest momentum.
In Senator Thomas Byrne it has a candidate with a high profile who was returned to the Dáil once before in 2007.
Sinn Féin’s Darren O’Rourke is also expected to significantly increase his party’s vote in the constituency where they won 9% of the first preferences two years ago.
The remaining candidates will hope the unpopular Government's austerity measures translate into votes that could see someone from outside the big parties returned to Leinster House.
The polls will open on Wednesday from 8am to 9pm.
Senator Thomas Byrne – Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil candidate Thomas Byrne was elected to Dáil Éireann as a TD for Meath East in 2007, and lost his seat in the 2011 General Election. He was subsequently elected to the Seanad.Ben Gilroy - DDI
Ben Gilroy, 50, is a candidate for Direct Democracy Ireland. An anti-austerity candidate, Mr Gilroy also helped found the group People For Economic Justice.Cllr Eoin Holmes - Labour
Labour councillor Eoin Holmes has been on Meath County Council since 2007. His Labour biography describes him as working on transport, zoning and planning issues at local level. A film and TV producer, he also runs a small coffee shop business.Charlie Keddy - Independent
Independent Charlie Keddy has been contesting local and general elections in Greystones and Wicklow since 1991. He says his reason for running in this by-election is solely anti-home and anti-water taxes.Mick Martin – Independent
Independent candidate Mick Martin is from Slane and a financial services adviser. This is his first time to go before the electorate.Seamus McDonagh – Workers' Party
Currently the chairman of the North Meath Campaign Against the Household and Water Taxes, Mr McDonagh is a native of Wilkinstown and lives in Kells. Mr McDonagh previously ran for election in 1987 and 2011.Helen McEntee - Fine Gael
Fine Gael candidate Helen McEntee is contesting the seat her father held until he died last year. Ms McEntee completed a degree in Economics, Politics and Law in DCU and then went on to complete a masters in Media and Communication. Her biography describes her as having worked with her father in Meath East and in the Department of Agriculture, when he became Minister of State.Gerard O'Brien - Independent
Independent candidate Gerard O'Brien is a psychiatric nurse from Navan. This is also his first time to go before the electorate.Sean O Buachalla – Green Party
Green Party candidate 31-year-old Sean O Buachalla is a youth development officer for Conradh na Gaeilge. He ran unsuccessfully in 2007 and 2011, polling just over 3% and 1% of the vote respectively.Darren O'Rourke – Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin candidate Darren O'Rourke is a policy adviser to his party’s health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. Born and raised in Kells, Mr O'Rourke now lives in Ashbourne. This is his first election.Jim Tallon - Independent
Wicklow farmer Jim Tallon has contested 15 elections and by-elections since 1981. Mr Tallon has previously declared himself President of The Republic of Glastnost - his farm in Arklow.
