Election 2024Constituency Profile

Sligo-Leitrim constituency profile: A good weathervane of how impactful Independent Ireland will be in 2024 election

Edel MacSharry, cousin of Marc, should take a seat in this largely unchanged constituency

Sligo-Leitrim Constituency map
Election 2024: the Sligo-Leitrim constituency is largely unchanged despite the radical surgery done elsewhere
Harry McGee's picture
Harry McGee
Thu Nov 07 2024 - 12:08

Outgoing TDs: Marian Harkin (Ind); Martin Kenny (SF); Marc MacSharry (Ind – retiring); Frank Feighan (FG)

Who are the candidates running in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency? Cllr Edel MacSharry (FF); Cllr Nessa Cosgrove (Lab), Deputy Martin Kenny (SF); Chris McManus (SF); Graham Monaghan (Aon), Deputy Frank Feighan (FG); Michael Kelly (TIP), Bláithín Gallagher (GP); Marie Casserly (Ind); Deputy Marian Harkin (Ind), Cllr Michael Clarke (II), Eamon Scanlon (FF), Graham Monaghan (Aon); Paddy O’Rourke (Fianna Fáil).

Another constituency that is largely unchanged despite the radical surgery done elsewhere. The retirement of former Fianna Fáil TD (now independent) Marc MacSharry provides the only possibility for significant change. The three incumbents – Marian Harkin, Leitrim-based Martin Kenny and Frank Feighan – are all very solid and, barring some surprise, should be in a strong position to retain their seats.

Harkin surprised some people by announcing she would stand again as, during 2023, the expectation was that this popular Independent (formerly an MEP too) would be standing down.

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Former MEP Chris McManus from Sligo town won through at convention to become Sinn Féin’s second candidate, but it’s hard to see a second seat for the party.

Fianna Fáil is expected to retain a seat despite the exit of Marc MacSharry. Its new candidate, Cllr Edel MacSharry, is a cousin of Marc. She and former TD Eamon Scanlon, from Ballymote, comprise the ticket and between them will have more than enough votes to win a seat.

It’s a good weathervane here of how impactful Independent Ireland will be in these elections. Cllr Michael Clarke is expected to poll respectfully but the presence of Harkin in the race will hamper his chances of election. Another interesting candidate is Independent Marie Casserly from Grange. A councillor since 2014, she is a former mayor but, again, will find it a challenge, given that Harkin is running.

This is another constituency with minimal changes, despite radical surgery elsewhere. Not quite big enough to be a four seater between two counties, the constituency still contains a sliver of south Donegal around Ballyshannon, much to the unhappiness of Donegal people (it is another province after all).

Sligo town has been developing in recent years, as a hub for tourism and industry. The technological university has grown in size and the hospital has also expanded. There are issues with transport, health and housing and the constituency’s reliance on tourism is always a big factor.

Prediction: Fianna Fáil (1), Sinn Féin (1), Fine Gael (1), Independent (1)