Fine Gael has selected Senator Emer Currie as their general election candidate in Dublin West, while Fianna Fáil has added Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart candidate Lorna Nolan as Jack Chambers’ running mate.
Currie served as former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s running mate in the 2020 general election in the constituency and will now look to hold onto the seat.
While it was widely expected that Fine Gael were going to run two candidates – and that may change – Currie will look to retain the seat held by her father between 1989 and 2002.
Prior to her 2020 election to the Seanad, Currie served as a councillor for Castleknock.
Currie said “I have worked for all areas and all communities in the constituency and that’s what I want to do in Dáil Éireann.”
“I also want to continue my work on establishing a sustainable, accessible and affordable childcare model, reforming the education system for children with additional needs, and building safe, thriving local communities with the services and supports people need at every age,” she said.
The Senator paid tribute to Varadkar, who announced earlier this year he would not be seeking re-election.
“I do not underestimate the significance of this evening as Leo Varadkar steps away from electoral politics, after twenty-one years of public service and as the face of Fine Gael in Dublin West. We are incredibly grateful to him for his immense achievements, leadership and friendship.”
Fine Gael performed well across Dublin West in June’s local elections, winning seats in all local electoral areas but Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart.
In Currie’s former constituency of Castleknock, Fine Gael took home 28.6% of first preferences with their two candidates Ted Leddy and Siobhain Shovlin winning seats.
Colm O’Rourke and Gayle Ralph winning two seats for Fine Gael in the competitive Cabra-Glasnevin also points to Fine Gael showing strength in the seat.
With Dublin West being bumped up to five seats in the next general election, there is every possibility of Fine Gael adding a second candidate closer to election time.
Lorna Nolan has been drafted in as Jack Chambers’ running mate in the constituency.
Nolan was unsuccessful in her bid to win a seat in Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart in June, having previously contested the seat as an independent candidate.
Nolan ran alongside JK Onwumereh in the constituency, picking up 7.1% of first preferences, but failed to win a seat.
The Dublin West ballot is now fit to burst; the addition of Currie (and a potential running mate) and Nolan will see them join a ballot containing 2020’s Sinn Féin poll-topper Paul Donnelly and running mate Breda Hanaphy, Green party leader Roderic O’Gorman, Labour councillor John Walsh, Aontú councillor Ellen Troy and Social Democrats candidate Ellen Murphy.