Constituency: Offaly

Independent candidate Kate Bopp (50) is the co-founder of an internationally operating NGO which specialising in disaster and emergency response. A prominent anti-abortion campaigner, she was also spokesperson for the ‘Mothers and Fathers Matter’ organisation – who called for a No vote during the marriage equality referendum. Aside from upholding the 8th Amendment, Ms Bopp wants to see the next Government invest heavily in improved flood defences, rural broadband, and healthcare.

Having served on Offaly County Council for more than ten years, Marcella Corcoran was elected as a TD in the 2011 general election. A proud mother-of-two, the 53-year-old is the former Chair of the Midlands Regional Authority and the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre. Deputy Corcoran is passionate about child protection and classes it as her “number one priority” in Dáil Éireann. She was appointed Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in 2014. A big drama buff, Ms Corcoran lists the ‘West Wing’ television series as among her favourite shows.

Barry Cowen first took his seat for the Laois–Offaly constituency at the 2011 general election. He was one of only three new Fianna Fáil TDs to be elected that year. Married with four children, the trained auctioneer is his party’s spokesperson on Environment and Local Government. Before his election to Dáil Éireann, Deputy Cowen was a member of Offaly County Council for ten years. He is the brother of former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, whose seat he successfully claimed following Mr Cowen’s retirement.

Founder of the Green Party in 1981, Christopher Fettes has stood as a candidate in numerous general and European elections. A strong advocate for vegetarianism, Mr Fettes is a retired English and French teacher. He supports the Green Party’s policies of reliable public transport, repealing the 8th Amendment, and holding a referendum on Irish Water.

Elected to Offaly County Council in 2004 as a member of the Progressive Democrats, Eddie Fitzpatrick is running in this general election as Fianna Fáil’s candidate for Offaly. Following an unsuccessful Independent run at the Dáil in 2011, Cllr Fitzpatrick joined the party the same year. A beef and tillage farmer by trade, Mr Fitzpatrick is a keen supporter of farmers and the agricultural sector.

Former running-mate of then Taoiseach Brian Cowen in 2007, John Foley will be standing under the Independent Alliance banner this general election. His third attempt at Dáil Éireann, Mr Foley has been an Independent councillor for Offaly since 2010. In his own words he wants to ensure that the county is not left behind as the economy recovers; saying that because he is not bound by a party whip, he will be “a representative of the people of Offaly and the people of Offaly only.” He formerly ran Accelerated Drain Cleaning in Edenderry, which closed its doors in 2012.

Independent councillor Joe Hannigan (58) topped the poll in the Nenagh ward when he was first elected to Tipperary County Council in 2014. Due to constituency boundaries he is running for one of the three Dáil seats in Offaly. A Tipperary native, Cllr Hannigan is an active member of the GAA and is working towards getting more resources to tackle rural crime. If elected, his focus will be on getting better roads and infrastructure for the region, as well as seeking improved investment of local SMEs, farmers, and tourism.

Now a member of Renua Ireland, John Leahy (37) was first elected as an Independent to Offaly County Council in 2009. A county GAA Coaching and Games Promotion officer, Cllr Leahy wants to see significant Government expenditure moved outside of Dublin and other major cities to combat the decline of rural Ireland. His second time contesting a general election, following a failed 2011 bid, he also favours reforming PRSI.

Facing her first general election this year is Carol Nolan (36), who is standing as Sinn Féin’s candidate for Offaly. A teacher by profession, she was elected on her first attempt as a councillor for the county in the 2014 local elections. Among her key issues is a commitment to help the thousands on the housing lists in Offaly/North Tipperary, and fighting for the restoration of cut services at Tullamore and Nenagh hospital. She also wants to see more front-line medical staff recruited and a national strategy to combat overcrowding.

Independent Teresa Ryan-Feehan pledges to address the “chronic lack of investment” in local communities and to lobby for increased Garda resources to tackle crime in rural Ireland. Following a failed 2014 local election bid, this will be Ms Ryan-Feehan's first time running for a seat in Dáil Éireann.

A retired member of An Garda Síochána, Ken Smollen (55) is standing in Offaly for the Irish Democratic Party candidate. A foundering member and its current chair, Mr Smollen strongly supports his party’s policy of encouraging constituents to contribution on Dáil matters - directing how their TD votes. Alongside this ‘participatory democracy’, he also lists his priorities as social housing, crime, health, small business, and halting repossession orders against homes.