Below are the candidates you can expect to find on the ballot paper come election day.
Candidate: David Bradley
Party: Independent
David Bradley is a new independent candidate that is entering the race with a campaign underpinned by his Christian faith.
David is 69, lives in Drogheda and is a retired pensions fund operations manager.
He says that the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael government has been an “oppressive” one and he was bitterly opposed to the lockdown measures taken in Covid and was sceptical of vaccines. He opposes abortion and has criticised the government’s handling of immigration.
He is arguing for the application of what he called “Biblical principles” in governmental decision-making.
Candidate: David Brennan
Party: Independent
David Brennan is a native of Mayo but moved with his family to Ardee as a child where the family developed a dairy farm. He went on to develop his own business, manufacturing clay pigeon targets, growing out of his own enthusiasm for the sport.
Mr Brennan is currently the Managing Director of Ardee Sports but has a strong belief in public service and says that, if elected, he will use “all of my extensive experience and considerable energy to work for what I believe to be for the common good and in the best interests of our country and its citizens”.
He is campaigning to protect the farming and rural way of life, for sustainable and renewable energy, immigration control and against government wastage. He believes the resources of County Louth can be better developed in the areas of tourism, recreation and transport.
Candidate: Marianne Butler
Party: Green Party
Raised in Quay Street, Cllr Marianne Butler now lives on the Avenue Road in Dundalk with her family.
She was first elected to Dundalk Town Council in 2009 and subsequently co-opted to Louth County Council in 2010. She has been Cathaoirleach of Dundalk Town Council and leas-Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council and has served as a member of the Governing Body of DKIT and as a member of the Louth Meath Education and Training Board.
Laying out her priorities, Cllr Butler said: “We need our children to have safe places to play, high quality education and training, and secure and affordable housing.
“We have a duty to strengthen what we have in common and reinforce what unites us as a community.”
She is also an advocate of long-term and evidence-based decision making at local and national level.
Candidate: Paula Butterly
Party: Fine Gael
Cllr Paula Butterly hails from a Louth farming community but went into business, which eventually took her to Italy.
She returned home in 2016 and changed course to study law and was called to the Bar in 2021.
Since then, she has been a member of Louth County Council and was re-elected to the council in the latest local elections.
As a mother, daughter, and sister to a brother with complex medical needs, Cllr Butterly says she has first-hand knowledge of the challenges of balancing work with caring for family. She hears daily from people worried about the future and says she is committed to ensuring you and your family get the services you need.
Among her priorities are to support and protect rural businesses and firms that are crucial in sustaining rural communities.
Childcare and education is another priority for the Louth councillor who wants to see more school places in Louth, better transport to our local schools and additional supports for children with special needs. Cllr Butterly also wants to see elderly people supported so they can continue to live in their own homes.
She is an advocate for greater support for SMEs and wants to ensure that Louth gets its fair share of national resources when it comes to the provision of public services.
Candidate: Albert Byrne
Party: Independent
Albert Byrne is running as an independent in Louth and is campaigning for reform of An Garda Síochána and the unification of Ireland on a federal system, retaining the current institutions in the north and south of Ireland.
He says he is campaigning for “accountability, transparency and real reform” in the gardaí and in the way the island is governed.
Candidate: Joanna Byrne
Party: Sinn Féin
Cllr Joanna Byrne is a Drogheda native who has been a councillor for Drogheda Urban since 2016 and was re-elected to that seat at the last local elections. She joins the Sinn Féin ticket, stepping into the Drogheda side of the constituency in place of outgoing TD, Imelda Munster, who has decided to retire from politics.
Cllr Byrne is heavily involved in sport in Drogheda, and with Drogheda United FC, in particular.
She says she grew up among a lot of strong female influences, which have imbued her with a passion for “breaking down barriers for women”.
Cllr Byrne was elected onto the FAI’s National League Committee and says she cherishes the opportunity to be a voice for Drogheda on a national field.
She says: “I have been a strong voice on housing and homelessness and have advocated for facilities for those struggling with addiction.
"I’ve worked on issues such as illegal dumping, road safety, housing maintenance, housing transfers, vacant properties, period poverty, campaigned to ‘bring the Merryweather home’ and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community."
Candidate: Kevin Callan
Party: Independent
Independent Councillor Kevin Callan has entered the race for the Dáil saying that he will be giving people a clear choice of more of the same with the parties or a strong and proven effective independent voice that will work for the County and negotiate with a government once it provides supports to the area.
Announcing the launch of his campaign Cllr Callan said that, "this race, this election is extremely important. I am putting my name forward to make sure that everyone has a real choice: more of the same or something different.
"We are living in an area that has such potential but which has been consistently failed and overlooked. Examples include the lack of government support in preventing town centre dereliction, lack of any support to build the Northern Cross Route in Drogheda, the loss of tourist beds in the closure of the D Hotel, the omission of a Drogheda North Train Station from national plans and no action on reopening Dunleer Train Station in 40 years, the lack of progress on the Ardee bypass in eight years.
“There’s also the lack of action on restoring Borough and Town Councils to Drogheda, Ardee and Dundalk, the list literally goes on and on. Another five years of the status quo could literally leave certain parts of the county in an unsalvageable state and I cannot stand by and watch that happen, that's why I'm entering the race.”
Cllr Callan has served as an elected representative for 15 years and says he wants to bring his effort and work to Leinster House.
He said: “I want to be clear with people, if elected I work on the basis that I will be productive and that I will work with those who work with me for the constituency but that as an independent I will require commitments for the County and if I'm not getting them, then my support will not be possible.
Candidate: David Carroll
Party: Independent
David Carroll from Dundalk is running as an Independent candidate but under the banner of ‘Taimíd Ireland’.
He has pledged to be a voice for farmer in Louth and to ‘make farming great again’.
He says he wants to see zero tax on farmers for three years as well as 0% VAT on farm produce and a free tank of ‘green diesel’ supplied to every farm.
Candidate: Thomas Clare
Party: Independent
Thomas Clare is a former Louth County Councillor, serving on the council from 1999 to 2009.
He is promoting himself as the ‘Volunteer TD’ and says that if voters volunteer their vote to him, he will volunteer his service to them.
He says: "I am blessed to have always been smack in the middle of decent, well meaning, hard working people who spend large chunks of their time running the football training, fund-raising for the sports gear, building the new astro turf, bringing the kids to training.
"These people know how it all works and these people don’t put their hand out. I only ever aspired to emulate my friends, it always made a difference and its not very complicated.”
Candidate: Alison Comyn
Party: Fianna Fáil
At the end of August, Fianna Fáil confirmed the addition of Alison Comyn to the ticket for the Louth Constituency for the next general election. She joins Senator Erin McGreehan on the Fianna Fáil ticket.
Ms Comyn is deeply-rooted in her community of Drogheda and South Louth and has over 30 years’ experience in media, as a television and print journalist, broadcaster, and news anchor, presenting numerous current affairs and entertainment programmes and is stepping into the political world, for the first time. Ms Comyn has a long-standing commitment to public service and community throughout her career.
Announcing her intention to run back in August, she said: “I was born, raised and educated in Drogheda, and as a local journalist for almost 20 years, I know the issues that affect our daily lives, and I’m deeply connected to the heartbeat of our town and region.
“I know the stories, struggles, and successes that have shaped our community because I live in the region and experience them myself, meaning I’m not just a candidate, but a neighbour who is invested in the future of our region.
“The Drogheda area has faced serious challenges in recent years - and we’re not out of the woods yet - but I honestly believe it can be a thriving, vibrant community where everyone can flourish.”
Candidate: Alan Fagan
Party: Independent
Alan Fagan is running in the general election as Nationalist Independent candidate for Louth.
Mr Fagan said: “I will not enter into any talks with any of the current parties in the Dáill and if elected, I will strive to achieve support to form a shadow government. This will give us the power to lodge injunctions against poor government legislation detrimental to the Irish people.”
Candidate: Hermann Kelly
Party: Irish Freedom Party
Hermann Kelly is running for the Irish Freedom Party on an anti-immigration ticket. He is president of the party and hails from Derry and now lives in Dunleer.
Mr Kelly ran an unsuccessful campaign to secure a seat in the European Parliament in the recent European Elections, where he won less than 1% of the vote.
His party has controversial views on ending mass migration and abandoning climate action measures.
Candidate: Niall McCreanor
Party: Social Democrats
The Social Democrats have selected Niall McCreanor as their general election candidate for Louth.
Having grown up in Louth, Niall has witnessed first-hand, the challenges facing residents of the county.
He said: “I am honoured to be selected to run for the Social Democrats in this constituency. This is my home and my family’s home and I am passionate about creating a brighter future for Louth.
"We face pressing issues such as housing affordability, healthcare access, the need for urban regeneration, and public transport deficiencies that demand immediate action.
“Housing is the significant concern for many residents in Louth, with skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable options.
"Everyone deserves a place to call home. I will advocate for policies that support the construction of affordable homes and ensure that local families can live in the communities they grew up in.”
The Social Democrats candidate said he would also campaign for greater investment in Louth healthcare, urban regeneration and better public transport.
Candidate: Derek McElearney
Party: The Irish People
Derek McElearney is a far-right, anti-immigration candidate who was one of the leaders of an anti-immigrant protest in Drogheda this summer, that found it was vastly outnumbered by a Drogheda4All counter-protest.
At 81 first preference votes in the Drogheda Rural electoral area in last summer’s local elections, Mr McElearney was the smallest vote of any of the candidates. He was out-polled by a Fine Gael candidate who had publicly withdrawn from the race.
Candidate: John McGahon
Party: Fine Gael
Senator John McGahon was elected as a Member of Seanad Éireann in March 2020 on the Cultural and Educational Panel and was subsequently appointed as Spokesperson for Climate Action, Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.
The Dundalk-based candidate currently serves on both the Joint Oireachtas Committes on Climate Action and the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
Prior to this, he served for six years as a member of Louth County Council. He was first elected to the council at 23 years of age in 2014 and was re-elected in 2019 on the first count for the Dundalk-Carlingford LEA. He was elected Cathaoirleach of the Dundalk Municipal District in 2017/18 and 2019/20
Born and raised in Dundalk, he is a nephew of former Louth TD Brendan McGahon.
John was educated at Dundalk Grammar School and University College Dublin where he obtained a BA Honours Degree in History and Politics. He plays rugby for Dundalk RFC and is a member of Dundalk Young Irelands GFC.
Candidate: Erin McGreehan
Party: Fianna Fáil
Senator Erin McGreehan grew up in Castletown, Cooley, and went to school in Mullaghbuoy NS and Bush Post Primary.
Elected to Louth County Council on her first attempt in May 2019, in June 2020 she was nominated to the 26th Seanad by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Senator McGreehan priorities for her term of office were to highlight inequalities for minorities, people with disabilities and the lower-waged.
She has worked to help mitigate the costs of Brexit while strengthening towns and villages making them more sustainable, attractive and safer for is of huge importance to her. Growing up on a small farm, she says she understands and respects the importance of the agricultural industry and of protecting the rural way of life.
Senator McGreehan is a mother of four young boys and herself and her partner Donal run a small engineering business. She and her family are active members of her local athletic club, Glenmore AC.
Candidate: Ryan McKeown
Party: Independent Ireland
The competitive race for Dáil seats in Louth has a new candidate to consider in a young man with Dundalk roots who is running as an Independent Ireland candidate and wants to address the problems families experience having their children access mental health services.
Ryan McKeown is a young and first-time candidate for the Louth constituency in the upcoming general election.
Mr McKeown says: “My family is originally from Beechmount Drive in Coxes Demesne, Dundalk, I am a young man, I understand some people may think why should we have faith in me because of my age and what life experience I have, but when I say I do.. I do.
"I have seen my parents struggle from week to week to make ends meet. I have seen my mother cry scared and panicked about whether she was going to be able to make ends meet, but they always did and they worked every hour God sent and still were left struggling.
“I am asking the people of Louth and East Meath to give me this one chance to work and show them that I will be there for them and their families. I know the role I have applied for is intense and is going to be challenging but I am prepared and dedicated to working seven days a week for every person who comes to me for help.”
Candidate: Ged Nash
Party: Labour
First elected to the Dáil in 2011, Deputy Ged Nash has been a TD, a Senator and a Minister and is currently the Labour Party spokesperson on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Enterprise and Trade.
The Drogheda-based TD has been involved in Louth electoral politics since fighting his first local election back in 1999 and winning a seat on Drogheda Corporation. He was co-opted onto Louth County Council in 2002 and in 2004, he became Mayor of Drogheda.
The Labour TD was first elected to the Dáil in 2011, and in 2014, he was appointed Minister for Business and Employment in a coalition government, with a focus on the development of indigenous Irish SMES and workers’ rights. During that period, he established the Low Pay Commission and worked to improve collective bargaining and trade union laws.
After losing his seat in the following election, he took up a seat in the Seanad where he secured a State apology for the historical mistreatment of LGBTQ+ citizens in the country.
In 2020, he was re-elected to the Dáil, taking up the Finance portfolio in his party where he has campaigned against price gouging and in favour of a living wage and greater investment in public services.
Deputy Nash is campaigning for greater jobs and investment for Drogheda, affordable housing, revitalising the town centre and delivering a stadium for Drogheda United and municipal playing grounds for the town.
He says: “Louth needs a respected and experienced voice in the Dáil and in the next government with the vision and drive to make this wealthy country work better for everyone.”
Candidate: Peter James Nugent
Party: Independent
Peter James Nugent is running as an independent candidate for Louth and says he is "dedicated to bring about positive change and progress for the community".
Mr Nugent announced his candidacy in September and laid out four campaign priorities.
The local community activist said: “I am running for the upcoming general election as an Independent candidate for Louth in General Election, because I believe in representing the people's voices and interests above any party affiliation.”
The local activist from Drogheda said that his number one priority was to improve opportunities for locals to secure social and affordable housing in the town. He also wants to see improved pathways for a better future for the homeless.
Another priority for the independent candidate is to make Drogheda a safer place to live by working to increase the garda presence on our streets.
Finally, he wants to see greater LGBTQ+ support as well as support for diversity and inclusion in the local community.
Peter James Nugent is a long-time advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and will continue to advocate on that community’s behalf in his election campaign, in a bid to secure a seat in the Dáil for the Louth constituency. The Drogheda activist also ran in the latest local elections as an Independent in the Drogheda Urban electoral area.
Candidate: Michael O’Dowd
Party: Aontú
Aontú candidate and Drogheda resident Michael O’Dowd is a former member of Louth County Council and twice served as Mayor of Drogheda.
Michael is a founder member of the social enterprise Ablevision which empowers people with an intellectual disability to speak up for themselves through the use of digital media. He is also a founder member of Drogheda Civic Trust.
Michael has previously worked in Tanzania on development projects and is a regular columnist with New York newspaper Irish Voice.
Among the issues at the centre of his election campaign is improving services at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
He says the hospital and its staff are under increasing pressure and he wants to raise awareness of the problems at the hospital and hold government accountable for the funding and management of the public health service.
Candidate: Tracey O’Hanlon
Party: Independent
Tracey O’Hanlon is running as an independent, and is a nationalist and anti-immigration candidate from Dundalk.
She ran in the recent local elections in Dundalk, where she failed to win a seat on Louth County Council.
Candidate: Ruairí Ó Murchú
Party: Sinn Féin
Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú is the Communications and Broadband Spokesperson for Sinn Féin.
Between 2017 and 2020 he was a member of Louth County Council representing the Dundalk South local electoral area.
Growing up in Knockbridge, he lived in Blackrock for a number of years and now lives in Bay Estate, Dundalk.
Deputy Ó Murchú is a Gaeilgeoir and advocate of the Irish language. A former member of Louth County Council he was Chairperson of Louth Drug and Alcohol Forum and a member of the North East Drugs Task Force.
He has a keen interest in the areas of addiction, recovery and wellbeing including the need for a holistic approach to tackle the drugs epidemic. He has worked to highlight the underfunding in our health service particularly regarding mental health supports.
A member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications Networks and the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs, Ruairí from a border county, he has a focus on the challenges that face border people. He is committed to achieving a referendum on Irish Unity and wants to build a “just, fair and equal Ireland, economically prosperous and socially and culturally inclusive”.
Candidate: James Renaghan
Party: People Before Profit-Solidarity
A former Dundalk FC youth player, James Renaghan worked in finance but returned to college and is now graduating with a Masters in Politics, completing his dissertation on ‘Young People and the Labour Movement’.
Mr Renaghan was a student housing activist with the National Student Action Group and has been involved in Action For Palestine Ireland. He is a co-founder of the Rank & File Collective which creates “protest art” against homelessness.
More recently, he has been a leading member of Dundalk Communities United, an anti-racist grassroots initiative seeking to build community solidarity whilst agitating against what the movement sees as government neglect.
The People Before Profit-Solidarity candidate said: “The long-standing social issues in Ireland are caused by the profound levels of inequality within society.
"People are trying to divide working class areas in Dundalk on this issue, scapegoating migrants and not the rich. I was dismayed at loyalist collaborators being welcomed down to Dundalk to protest against refugees after the devastation caused by loyalism in the north of Ireland and here in the town, in the 70s.”
Setting out his stall for the election, Mr Renaghan said: "Working-class people need to unite and fight like we did on the water charges, join a trade union and build back community that has been lost over the austerity years.”
He intends to use the election as a platform for socialist politics, calling for the banning of vulture funds, the establishment of a state construction company to build public housing and seriously tackling property dereliction.
Candidate: Antóin Watters
Party: Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin in Louth has announced that north Louth Councillor Antóin Watters will run as a third candidate in the constituency alongside incumbent Ruaíri Ó Murchú TD and Cllr Joanna Byrne from Drogheda.
He said that government waste has prompted him to run.
Cllr Watters explained: “The final straw for me was the allocation of €9,000,000 in Budget 2025 for mobile phone pouches to keep students off their phones during school hours.
"They then insulted people’s intelligence by selling this waste as ‘positive well-being and mental health’ as the latest figures for those waiting for CAMHS shows 695 people in Louth of whom 115 have been waiting over 52 weeks.
"Why don’t we tell students to switch off their phones or keep them in their lockers and invest that €9 million in CAMHS?”
Cllr Watters, who is a father of two young children, said he “despaired of their future if things don’t change.”
He said: “We need a progressive housing and planning policy to allow children born in rural north Louth to stay in their community if they so choose.”
