Election 2024Constituency Profile

Cork North-Central constituency profile: Housing could impact outcome of this new five-seater

Fianna Fáil’s Pádraig O’Sullivan and Fine Gael’s Colm Burke should be relatively confident of retaining their seats

Cork North Central Constituency Map
Election 2024: Cork North-Central has been allocated an additional seat as Ballincollig moves over from the Cork North-West constituency
Jennifer Bray's picture
Jennifer Bray
Thu Nov 07 2024 - 12:15

Outgoing TDs: Colm Burke (FG), Thomas Gould (SF), Pádraig O’Sullivan (FF), Mick Barry (PBP)

Who are the Cork North-Central candidates? Deputy Thomas Gould (SF), Deputy Pádraig O’Sullivan (FF), Deputy Colm Burke (FG), Deputy Mick Barry (S-PBP), Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald (FF), Cllr. John Maher (Lab), Cllr. Oliver Moran (GP), Cllr. Joe Lynch (SF), Cllr. Garret Kelleher (FG), Cllr. Eoghan Kenny (Lab), Cllr. Ken O’Flynn (Ind Ire), Rachel Hurley Roche (Ind/WP), Finian Toomey (Aon), Imelda Daly (FG, Derek Blighe (IF), Ciarán McCarthy (SD), Sandra Murphy Kelleher (FF), Susan Doyle (SD), John Donohoe (Ind)

Cork North-Central has been allocated an additional seat as the large suburb of Cork city, Ballincollig, with a population of 20,497, moves over from the Cork North-West constituency. In addition, three electoral divisions in the Mallow area, with a population of 14,408, will transfer over from Cork East.

In the 2020 general election, Sinn Féin’s Thomas Gould commanded nearly 27 per cent of the first-preference vote. Fianna Fáil’s Padraig O’Sullivan took the second seat with nearly 16 per cent of the first-preference vote, with Fine Gael’s Colm Burke elected on the 14th count. Burke has strong ties within the community and looks set to retain his seat.

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In 2020, PBP’s Mick Barry proved very transfer-friendly. Oliver Moran previously ran unsuccessfully here for the Greens but stayed in contention until the 13th count.

The constituency starts in Cork City from the river Lee to rural areas above the city. Cork North-Central has more residents working in manufacturing and industries than nationally, and a higher proportion of households living in flats/apartments than nationally. If housing emerges as one of the bigger issues, it will be relevant in this constituency. Households in Cork North Central are also less likely to own their houses outright - 31 per cent compared with 36 per cent nationally.

Fianna Fáil’s Padraig O’Sullivan and Fine Gael’s Colm Burke should be relatively confident of retaining their seats while Barry (who relied on Sinn Féin transfers in 2020) may be nervous, although the addition of a seat might prove to be a boon for his hopes of re-election. Independent Ireland Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn (formerly of Fianna Fáil) narrowly lost out to Barry last time, by a margin of less than 900 votes. Sinn Féin’s Thomas Gould looks likely to hold his seat. Former Sinn Féin press officer and newly elected Councillor Joe Lynch may find his chances boosted by the fact he is based near the key Ballincollig battleground.

Labour are running two candidates, Councillors John Maher and Eoghan Kenny. Both would be hoping for some of Sean Sherlock’s vote given Mallow’s move - but is running two candidates a mistake? Maher may have the edge over Kenny in a constituency which has a Labour tradition (Kathleen Lynch was first elected to the Dáil in 1994 but lost her seat in the 2016 general election) and Labour could yet secure a victory here.

Possible outcome: Fine Gael (1), Sinn Féin (1), Fianna Fáil (1), People Before Profit-Solidarity (1), Labour (1)