With Dublin Mid-West being bumped up to a 5-seater for the next general election, Fine Gael has opted to repeat its 2020 ticket in the seat.
In the 2020 general election, future Minister Emer Higgins was elected with just under 10% of first preferences while Casserly received 7.7%.
In a 5-seater, a similar performance would be enough to put both in contention.
The big headline story in the constituency in the 2020 general was Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin and Mark Ward taking home 42.8% of first preferences between them.
Casserly faced the electorate more recently than her running mate, finishing second in Lucan behind independent councillor and former TD Paul Gogarty.
In June, Casserly received 13.6% of first preferences, while fellow Fine Gael candidate Caroline Brady received 10.4%.
Sinn Féin’s two candidates Derren Ó Brádaigh and Lorraine Dwyer, failed to win a seat with 5.7% and 2.7% respectively.
Fine Gael join Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil in running two candidates in the seat (Ó Broin and Ward confirmed their candidacy back in August) while Fianna Fáil are looking to win the seat for the first time since 2007 with their candidates, councillor Shane Moynihan and Lynda Prendergast.
People Before Profit’s Gino Kenny announced his re-election bid in October.
Gogarty recently announced his Dáil comeback bid, while the Social Democrats will be running their own version of Eoin Ó Broin, helpfully called Eoin Ó Broin.
Independent Ireland councillor Linda De Courcy and Irish Freedom Party councillor Glen Moore will also look to win Dáil seats for their party in the constituency.
Casserly said, “I am privileged to represent Fine Gael in the constituency of Dublin Mid-West, alongside Minister Emer Higgins.”
“I was first elected to South Dublin County Council in 2014 and have worked diligently for my own community in Lucan and Palmerstown over the past 10 years. Running in the general election is a natural step for me as I have huge ambitions for this constituency.”
“I entered political life as a result of my work as a disability advocate. I have always believed passionately in the need for greater accessibility for people with disabilities and have worked to change the dial on how we become more inclusive as a society, ensuring that our legislation, local and national government all work in tandem to value everyone equally,” she said.
“At the heart of everything I do is investing in every single person in our community, so that everyone feels valued and support. I challenge when things don’t work and am never afraid to call that out. I am not afraid to say if something isn’t working but will always pose a tangible solution – this is my strength and one that I will bring to Dáil Éireann if elected by the people of Dublin Mid-West.”