Election 2024Constituency Profile

Cork South-West constituency profile: Holly Cairns faces scrap for her seat

Sinn Féin cannot be ruled out in this sprawling rural constituency

Cork South-West Constituency map
Election 2024: Cork South-West could once again see a strong Independent vote
Jennifer Bray's picture
Jennifer Bray
Thu Nov 07 2024 - 12:15

Outgoing TDs: Holly Cairns (SD), Michael Collins (Ind), Christopher O’Sullivan (FF)

Who are the Cork South-West candidates? Deputy Holly Cairns (SD), Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan (FF), Senator Tim Lombard (FG), Cllr Noel O’Donovan (FG), Evie Nevin (Lab), Claire O’Callaghan (SF), Deborah O’Driscoll (TIP), Mary Ryder (GP), Zoe Lapland (PBP)

Independent Michael Collins was the poll topper here in 2020, taking 26 per cent of the first-preference vote to be elected on the first count. He was well ahead of the pack, too. It is expected there will be strong Independent vote here again. He is the leader and co-founder of the Independent Ireland.

Fianna Fáil’s Christopher O’Sullivan was elected on the eighth count in 2020, just ahead of Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns. But Fine Gael’s Tim Lombard wasn’t too far behind Cairns, with about 550 votes between them. Cairns could face a scrap for her seat if he can edge ahead this time. If she lost her seat, there would be significant consequences for her party as they potentially eye up Government formation talks.

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Fine Gael have selected another candidate, Councillor Noel O’Donovan, a former garda. There was controversy in the last election when more than 500 members signed a petition to add O’Donovan to the ticket, only for Fine Gael headquarters to decide against such a move. That decision caused unhappiness locally.

The Labour Party is running Clonakilty-based disability activist Evie Nevin and local sources say she has been highly active in getting her campaign off the ground. Sinn Féin have selected Claire O’Callaghan, a support co-ordinator who works with older people. It’s a tougher ask for Sinn Féin in this constituency, but don’t rule them out – Sinn Féin’s Paul Hayes took 10.77 per cent of the first-preference vote in 2020, which was actually slightly higher than Cairns’s tally.

Geographically, Cork South-West is a sprawling rural constituency that includes towns such as Bandon, Kinsale, Clonakilty, Dunmanway, Skibbereen, Bantry and Castletownbere, with agriculture, fishing and tourism all important sectors in the economy.

Possible outcome: 1 IND, 1 SD, 1 FF