Tipperary North constituency profile: Michael Lowry will probably top the poll for the seventh election in a row

Outgoing TDs: New constituency. Outgoing TDs for five-seat Tipperary constituency are Michael Lowry (Ind), Alan Kelly (Lab), Jackie Cahill (FF – retiring), Mattie McGrath (Ind) and Martin Browne (SF)

Who are the candidates running in the Tipperary North constituency?

Evan Barry (SF)
Phyll Bugler (FG)
Dan Harty (SF)
Alan Kelly (LAB)
Michael Lowry (IND)
Peter Madden (IP)
Liam Minehan (IND)
Diana O’Dwyer (PBPS)
Ryan O’Meara (FF)
Francis O’Toole (AON)
Justin Roundy Phelan (IND)
Iva Pocock (GP)
Jim Ryan (IND)
Michael Smith (FF)
Source Tipperary North returning officer

The county of Tipperary has been split once again into two three-seaters, after several years as a single five-seat constituency. The move provides an extra seat for the county but squeezes candidates in each of the new constituencies, who now must win a much bigger percentage of the votes (a quota is 25 per cent in a three seater, just 16.6 per cent in a five seater) to get elected.

In North Tipp, Fianna Fáil was rocked by the sudden recent announcement by sitting TD Jackie Cahill that he would not stand again. But it has – albeit at the far end of the constituency from Cahill’s base – a willing replacement in the shape of Roscrea councillor Michael Smith, a son of the long-time FF TD and minister of the same name. Cahill’s parliamentary assistant, Cllr Ryan O’Meara, was also selected to stand.

Elsewhere, Michael Lowry will hold his seat – probably topping the poll for the seventh election in a row, an incredible achievement in anyone’s books. The Labour Party’s Alan Kelly – deposed as leader by his own party before he ever fought a general election – has surprised many by sticking with Irish politics and running for the Dáil again. Local elections results suggest that Labour is in reasonably good health here and Kelly is a big beast; he is in a strong position to retain his seat. Sinn Féin is absent as a serious player in this constituency, a legacy of past internal difficulties. Fine Gael’s Phyll Bugler faces a tough task to take either the Fianna Fáil seat or to unseat Kelly. Lowry has eaten much of the Fine Gael vote here.

Possible outcome: Independent (1), Labour (1), Fianna Fáil (1)