North Tipp to provide key election battle

Many of the three-seater constituencies are expected to provide fierce battles in the upcoming election and many pundits will be closely watching developments in Tipperary north.

The constituency is the stomping ground of former Fine Gael TD Michael Lowry, who held his seat in 1997 as an independent after he was expelled from Fine Gael.

Mr Lowry is expected to top the polls again this year and Fianna Fail’s Michael Smith is also expected to retain his seat.

However, with Fianna Fail’s second north Tipperary TD, Michael O’Kennedy, retiring this year, the party is fighting to retain its second seat.

Maire Hoctor will replace Mr O’Kennedy on the Fianna Fail ticket, but she faces serious challenges from Labour’s Kathleen O’Meara and Fine Gael’s Noel Coonan.