Election 2024: Cork South Central — All to play for in expanded bear pit

A lot has changed in the intervening four-and-a-half years. Micheál Martin has gone from opposition leader to rotating taoiseach and now outgoing tánaiste. Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has moved from the justice portfolio on the Sinn Féin frontbench to social protection spokesman.

Former tánaiste Simon Coveney has decided to bow out of politics, while Michael McGrath has ascended from finance spokesman to finance minister and now the EU Commission.

While the 2020 election outcome was considered all but sewn up, the departure of two political heavyweights, coupled with the addition of a Dáil seat, means the landscape for candidates and indeed voters has significantly altered. It will make for a fascinating few days of counting ballots, with smaller parties and Independents all hoping that the changes will work in their favour.

RESULTS: GENERAL ELECTION 2024

Scroll for results in your area

Cork East

Cork North Central

Cork North West

Cork South Central

Cork South West

Kerry

Clare

Limerick City

Limerick County

Tipperary North

Tipperary South

Waterford

Dublin Bay North

Dublin Bay South

Dublin Central

Dublin Fingal East

Dublin Fingal West

Dublin Mid West

Dublin North West

Dublin Rathdown

Dublin South Central

Dublin South West

Dublin West

Dun Laoghaire

Carlow/Kilkenny

Kildare North

Kildare South

Laois

Longford/Westmeath

Louth

Meath East

Meath West

Offaly

Wexford

Wicklow

Wicklow/Wexford

Cavan/Monaghan

Donegal

Galway East

Galway West

Mayo

Roscommon/Galway

Sligo/Leitrim

It is expected that Fianna Fáil leader Martin and his running mate Seamus McGrath will take two of the five seats available, with a third going to one of the three Fine Gael candidates. Ó Laoghaire as an incumbent is strongly placed, but it could be an almighty scrap between the Greens, Social Democrats, Labour, Independents, and perhaps a second Fine Gael candidate for the final Dáil seat.

PÁDRAIG RICE

Naoise Spillett has been a Pádraig Rice supporter since the day he was born.

Now five-and-a-half months old, baby Naoise is out canvassing with his mother Eve O’Connor who admits now that she was in labour when she went to vote in June’s local elections.

The addition of a pram on the canvass is a regular occurrence for the Social Democrats councillor; in fact, the record set was three babies and a mother-to-be out knocking on doors at once.

“It’s not a mystery is it, why people would be canvassing for the Social Democrats if they have small children?” asks O’Connor.

“The policies align with our priorities, it’s self-interest really,” she jokes.

Housing, childcare, the war in Gaza, and access to services for children with disabilities are among the issues that come up on the doors, with Rice explaining his party’s policies on each with ease.

Rice is acutely aware of the life-changing impact that small measures taken by elected representatives can make. One constituent can now meet her sister at The Lough after he intervened to have drop kerbs installed on footpaths. The 500m journey had previously been impossible for the wheelchair user.

“It was a joy to go back to her on the canvass this time because she was able to tell us that she can now go to the local cafe to have lunch, it has given her a new independence,” said Rice, before adding that a disability audit is required for the entire city of Cork to ensure it is fully accessible.

Since being elected to Cork City Council this year, Rice has been working on a number local issues and is keen to inform Turners Cross residents of the developments he has made in getting funding approval for two speed ramps on Fr Mathew Rd.

“My back is nearly broken from ye politicians,” postman Darren Brennan tells Rice as he passes him on the street, referring to the large volume of candidate literature now going into postboxes.

“Did Holly have the baby yet?” asks the local postman after spotting the pram among the small group of mainly women who are out with Rice today.

The elevation of Cairns as party leader is mentioned by a number of older residents.

“Your leader is a breath of fresh air,” one man out washing his car tells Rice, “we need more young people in the Dáil.”

Rice, aged 35, is hoping that he can bring down the age profile of those who represent the public in Dáil Éireann.

MICK FINN

Mick Finn doesn’t have to introduce himself or explain his political priorities in this part of Cork City.

“I don’t need the leaflet Mick, you have my vote,” one woman in a dressing gown tells him as she passes the Independent candidate out canvassing in Greenmount.

It’s dark when more than 40 supporters and a dog gather for the evening canvass. The large group means Finn doesn’t actually have to knock on very many doors himself, but does catch up to take details in a pink hardback notebook when issues are raised.

One family is having difficulty securing a transfer from their current social house, which has a leaking roof and mould. There are five children living in the house, Christopher McCarthy explains before scuttling up the stairs in a bid to find some official correspondence.

As Finn waits, he asks the children about school and whether they like the principal, which of course they do.

The council letter cannot be found, but Finn promises to follow up.

It’s then into the Friars Walk Tavern where a group of men are illuminated under warm orange lighting at the bar.

It turns out to be a costly canvass.

“Drinks on Mick,” bar manager and former Cork City player Pat Duggan announces as Finn makes for the door.

Outside on the street, the shouts and claps can be heard from the men left inside.

Finn previously ran for the Dáil, but he believes that everything has aligned this time around.

“When you see the national trend you would be hopeful, I am also hoping that my 15 years on the council, my year as lord mayor, means that I am well enough known around here,” said Finn.

He says the additional seat this time is “one of the main reasons” for his decision to run.

“I ran when it was a four-seater and I came sixth. I think if it had remained a four-seater I wouldn’t have put my name forward.

“In the previous constituency, I would say the four seats were tied up, so it was impossible. This time around you have a couple of heavy-hitters not going forward, the likes of Simon [Coveney] and Michael McGrath, so you would be hoping that there are extra votes there as well.”

As Finn loops back to Coláiste Éamann Rís where the group started its canvass, Christopher McCarthy catches up with him, council document in his hand.

Thanking him, Finn folds the letter neatly and places it between the pages of his pink book.

LAURA HARMON

A glamourous Kathleen Doyle answers the door in a bucket hat and red lipstick. She reveals that the head covering is disguising her rollers.

“I grew up with Toddy, we are old, old neighbours, “ she tells Labour candidate Laura Harmon.

The Toddy she is referring to, of course, is Toddy O’Sullivan, who passed away in 2021 and who served the people of Cork in Leinster House for 16 years. He remains a respected and fondly remembered individual in Togher where Harmon is canvassing.

Acutely aware of O’Sullivan’s reputation for hard work and delivery, Harmon has sent a letter of endorsement from his family to her constituents in Cork South Central.

“Get out and fight, we need the women now,” adds the pensioner with a smile before closing her door on the canvassers.

But this is also Martin territory and as Harmon and her canvass team brave the rain, another resident informs the candidate that while she is a distant relation of O’Sullivan, she will be voting Fianna Fáil.

However, with an extra seat up for grabs this time around, even traditional voters are exploring their options.

Jenny McCarthy has just put four Christmas puddings in the oven and has another seven to go when she answers her door.

“I have never crossed the line before,” she said.

She adds that she might consider voting for Harmon after the candidate tells her that there hasn’t been a female representative in Cork South Central for 17 years.

Ghost buses that never arrive as well as the housing crisis repeatedly come up on the doors, of which Harmon has personal experience.

“Three of my four younger sisters have left the country because of the housing crisis, they don’t see home ownership in their future,” said Harmon.

“I’m trying to get on the property ladder myself, I’m a renter. We in Labour really want to create a state construction company to work with local authorities to increase supply of housing and use a significant portion of the Apple tax to get that off the ground for land acquisition.”

Harmon is not afraid to ask people for their number one vote, setting out the lay of the land to voters.

“I think the fourth and the fifth seat are very much up for grabs, and there is potential for a new TD.”