Constituency profile: Limerick
Limerick County has also seen a change of boundary since the last election which now means Abbeyfeale will be taken back into the area — a move that should help Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins.
Despite this, little is expected to change in Limerick — apart from three letters. This is an extremely rural constituency and with around 4,500 farming families, beef and milk prices and farm grants will be important issues for many voters.
The lack of broadband and proper mobile phone coverage also has to be tackled.
The lack of a motorway between Limerick and Cork and a motorway between Limerick and Waterford have been highlighted for many years, but little progress has been made to upgrade these routes.
Sitting TD Dan Neville, who has been in the Dáil and Seanad for over 30 years, announced in August he would not be standing for re-election.
However, the Neville name will still be on ballot papers in the Limerick constituency as his son Tom, currently a local councillor, will be running for Fine Gael after he was selected at the party convention in September last year. The Neville legacy is almost sure to get him over the line and he will be confident of a seat in Leinster House.
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Sitting Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan was also selected in September and he will be equally confident of retaining his seat.
Sinn Féin is the strongest of the other challengers and like the rest of the country has a strong message and brand.
Social Democrat candidate James Heffernan is also an outside chance. The former Labour senator defected to the newly formed party in September.
A number of Independents have also declared but are unlikely to get past the party machines of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
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