This Friday is General Election day, and polling stations nationwide will be open from 7am to 10pm, giving everyone an opportunity to cast their vote and help decide which form of government we will have for up to the next five years. The Vale Star catchment area encompasses four different constituencies, Cork North West, Cork East, Limerick County, and Limerick City. When voting, a polling card is your main identifier, while sometimes further proof of identity is required, such as a passport or driving licence.
In Cork North West, 11 candidates are vying for three seats. The candidates are Deputy Michael Moynihan (Fianna Fáil), Deputy Aindrias Moynihan (Fianna Fáil), Cllr. John Paul O’Shea (Fine Gael), Cllr. Michael Creed (Fine Gael), Colette Finn (Green Party), Becky Kealy (Aontú), Joe Moore (People Before Profit), Nicole Ryan (Sinn Féin), Walter Ryan-Purcell (Independent), John O’Leary (Independent) and Ellen Barry (Independent Ireland).
In 4-seater Cork East there are 18 candidates: Deputy Pat Buckley (Sinn Féin), Deputy James O’Connor (Fianna Fáil), Cllr. Noel McCarthy (Fine Gael), Cllr. Deirdre O’Brien (Fianna Fáil), Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley (Independent), Cllr. William O’Leary (Independent), Cllr. Liam Quaide (Social Democrats), Frank Roche (Independent), Mona Stromsoe (Aontú), Mark Stanton (Fine Gael), Clíona O’Halloran (Green Party), Kathryn Bermingham (Independent Ireland), Mehdi Özçinar (Sinn Féin), Asch Ní Fhinn (People Before Profit), James Peter O’Sullivan (The Irish People), Ross Cannon (Independent), Catherine Lynch (Independent Ireland), and John O’Leary (Independent).
In three-seater Limerick County, there are 15 candidates; Jim Barrett (Non-Party), Bridie Collins (Fianna Fáil), Joanne Collins (Sinn Féin), Niall Collins (Fianna Fáil), Richie Crehan (Non-Party), Laura Fahy (People Before Profit-Solidarity), Rob O’Donnell (Green Party), Richard O’Donoghue (Independent Ireland), Patrick O’Donovan (Fine Gael), Donna O’Loughlin (Irish Freedom Party), Lorraine O’Sullivan (The Irish People), Michael Ryan (Aontú), April Sheehan-Corkery (Non-Party), Noreen Stokes (Fine Gael) and Gerben Uunk (Party for Animal Welfare).
In four-seater Limerick City, there are 17 declared candidates: Esther Aherne (Independent Ireland), Sarah Beasley (Aontú), Maria Byrne (Fine Gael), Melaine Cleary, Frankie Daly (Non-Party), Ruairí Fahy (People Before Profit-Solidarity), Paul Gavan (Sinn Féin), Michelle Hayes (Non-Party), Brian Leddin (Green Party), Dean Lillis (Non-Party), Willie O’Dea (Fianna Fáil), Kieran O’Donnell (Fine Gael), Elisa O’Donovan (Social Democrats), Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Féin), Dean Quinn (The Irish People), Dee Ryan (Fianna Fáil) and Conor Sheehan (Labour).
The counting of votes will begin at Limerick Racecourse in Patrickswell on Saturday morning. It could be Sunday, or even Monday before all seven seats will be filled from Limerick to the 34th Dáil. Mallow GAA Complex will host the counts for Cork East and Cork North West Constituencies. It’s too early to say who the winners will be, but one thing that we can say for sure is that some primary school pupils will be delighted, as their schools will be used as voting centres, so they will be closed for classes.