Sinn Féin adds Doolan to Dublin South Central ticket

Sinn Féin has added a third candidate to their Dublin South Central ticket; veteran councillor Daithí Doolan.

The four-term Dublin City Council member, who also ran alongside Lynn Boylan in June’s European elections, has been drafted as Sinn Féin looks to maximise their share of the vote in Dublin South Central.

With the constituency having a rep as the most left-leaning constituency in the country (it presently has no Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil TDs), Sinn Féin are now gambling on a three candidate strategy.

Doolan joins 2020’s poll-topper Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Senator Maire Devine on the ticket.

In 2020, Ó Snodaigh received just shy of 40% of first preferences but was Sinn Féin’s only candidate on the ballot.

Post-election analysis revealed that had Sinn Féin run more than one candidate on that occasion it would have been enough to secure a second seat.

The party will now be running three candidates in a bid to make up for it.

Doolan was first elected to Dublin City Council in 2004, losing out in 2009 but then winning re-election in 2014, 2019 and in 2024.

At his most recent trip to the polls, Doolan topped the poll in Ballyfermot-Drimnagh and was elected on the second count with 15% of first preferences.

On the European front, Doolan finished 10th out of the competitive 23 candidate ballot with 2.8% of first preferences.

The Dublin South Central election race is one of the most dynamic election races in Dublin, with Ó Snodaigh running alongside incumbent TDs Joan Collins (Right2Change) and Patrick Costello (Greens).

People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith announced in summer 2023 that she would not be seeking re-election, with councillor Hazel De Nortúin looking to retain the Dáil seat.

Fianna Fáil will be running Senator Catherine Ardagh, Mary Seery-Kearney will be running for Fine Gael, councillor Darragh Moriarty will be running for Labour, councillor Jen Cummins will be running for the Social Democrats, Independent Ireland will be running two candidates in Philip Sutcliffe and Rebecca Hendrick, while a smattering of other smaller parties and independents will be appearing on the ballot.