Fresh off topping the poll in Balbriggan in June’s local elections, independent councillor Tony Murphy is now making his 3rd bid for the Dáil.
Murphy secured his 3rd straight term on Fingal County Council in June, topping the poll in Balbriggan with 19.4% of first preferences and duly being elected on the first count.
Murphy made it back-to-back poll-topping performances in Balbriggan, having previously been elected on the first count in 2019 with 17.4% of first preferences.
The Balbriggan election race was notable for only having one councillor who represents the current coalition parties elected; the independent Murphy, former Labour TD Brendan Ryan, fellow independent Grainne Maguire and Sinn Féin’s Malachy Quinn were among the victors in Balbriggan, with Fine Gael’s Tom O’Leary the sole government party councillor of the pack.
Murphy previously contested the 2016 and 2020 general elections in the former Dublin Fingal constituency, standing in 2016 as part of the Independent Alliance where he received 4.1% of first preferences, and fared better in 2020 with 5.7% of first preferences, this time as an independent candidate.
Murphy will be contending the new Dáil constituency of Dublin Fingal West, joining existing candidates Louise O’Reilly, who topped the poll in Dublin Fingal in 2020 for Sinn Féin, Green TD and Minister Joe O’Brien, Fianna Fáil Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, Labour councillor Robert O’Donoghue, Aontú councillor Robbie Loughlin and local legal eagle Grace Boland will be lining out for Fine Gael.
Announcing his third Dáil bid, Murphy said “I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Fingal Dublin West constituency in the upcoming General Election. My focus has always been on delivering real results for the community, and I believe my experience, dedication, and deep-rooted connections to the area will allow me to continue to make a positive impact. I look forward to the opportunity to represent the people of Fingal Dublin West on the national stage and work toward a brighter future for all residents.”
Following the recent constituency boundary changes, the former Dublin Fingal five-seater constituency was split into two three-seater constituencies – Fingal Dublin West and Fingal Dublin East. Fingal Dublin West covers a number of communities, including Balbriggan, Balrothery, Skerries, Loughshinny, Rush, Lusk, Ballyboughal, Kilsallaghan, St. Margaret’s, Coolquay, Oldtown, Garristown, and Naul.