Sinn Féin names second candidate to run in hotly contested Cork constituency
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Sinn Féin has announced that it is running a second candidate in the Tánaiste's constituency in Cork.
Local activist Michelle Cowhey Shahid is set to run in the general election alongside sitting Cork TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire in Cork South Central.
The move follows a disappointing campaign for Ms Cowhey Shahid in June when she missed out on a seat in the local elections.
Mr Ó Laoghaire, the party's spokesperson on social protection, has been a TD since 2016 and will be aiming to retain the position. The 35-year-old has had some health concerns in recent years which caused him to go on leave for some time last year.
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The Cork South Central constituency will get a shake-up in this election with long-serving TDs Simon Coveney and Michael McGrath stepping aside. Mr Coveney is leaving politics and former finance minister Mr McGrath has taken up his role as European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law in Brussels.
It will be a tightly contested race with a host of candidates vying to claim a seat in what is now a five-seat constituency.
As it would be deemed unlikely that Micheál Martin will lose his seat, Fianna Fáil is hoping to keep Mr McGrath's seat not only in the party but in the family as his brother, councillor Seamus McGrath, has been selected.
Seamus received the highest first-preference vote of any candidate in the local elections and the party will be hoping the voters show up once again to elect him to the Dáil.
According to party sources, it is likely that a third candidate will be selected with a number of well-known personalities being approached.
Fine Gael has selected three candidates as they seek to retain Mr Coveney's seat and perhaps gain another.
Following a contentious selection convention which saw councillors Shane O'Callaghan and Úna McCarthy chosen, a third candidate — Seanad Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer — was added to the ticket last month.
Although the final decision was to run three candidates, there are some in Fine Gael who are concerned that they risk splitting the vote and might struggle to keep a single seat.
On Sinn Féin's decision to run two candidates, Mr Ó Laoghaire said: "We're running two candidates because we believe that there is a need for a change of government.
"We believe that there will be a choice in this next election between this government and between an alternative government that will deliver change in terms of housing, in terms of childcare and in terms of healthcare."
Ms Cowhey Shahid said it is clear that there is an appetite for a change in government and a change in how the cost-of-living crisis is tackled, how healthcare waiting lists are dealt with and how social and affordable homes are delivered.