Constituency: Tipperary South

Elected to Tipperary County Council in this year’s local elections, Cllr Michael ‘Chicken’ Brennan serves in the Carrick-on-Suir area, and is a member of the Tipperary Education and Training Board (TETB), and Rural Water Monitoring Committee. Cllr Brennan’s late uncle Ned Brennan, served as a Labour member of south Tipperary County Council for over 30 years and his late father Mick Brennan had a long history as a trade unionist who helped foster industrial relations for his Avonmore/Tirlán colleagues. Cllr Brennan’s priorities include tackling the housing crisis, dealing with anti-social behaviour and improving recreational, sporting, and infrastructure facilities.

Married to Helen, and with four adult children and six grandchildren, Martin Browne TD has lived in Cashel for 30 years. He was first elected to the Dáil in 2020, and is Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Petitions. A long term community activist, he is involved in a range of community groups and initiatives. Previously, he served as a Cashel Town Councillor, and a member of Tipperary County Council for five years from 2014. Deputy Browne has said his main issues are campaigning for more social and affordable housing, greater investment in rural transport, and defending the family farm.

Bill Fitzgerald, of Kiltankin, Kilbehenney, Cahir, is a computer technician and wants to be an independent voice for Tipperary. Mr Fitzgerald ran in the local elections and is concerned about migration, housing, and the cost of living. Mr Fitzgerald has been involved in the public banking forum of Ireland, which is trying to get non-profit community banks organised for the productive economy.

A county councillor for two terms over 11 years, Cllr Goldsboro has twice topped the poll in her locality, most recently in this year’s local elections in the Carrick-on-Suir LEA. Cllr Goldsboro was selected at Fianna Fáil’s Tipperary South General Election Convention after the one other candidate, Cllr Siobhán Ambrose of Clonmel, withdrew her candidacy and the selection did not go to a vote. Cllr Goldsboro studied Finance and Accountancy at DIT Ireland, having gone to school in Scoil Mhuire Ballingarry. Rejuvenating local villages and communities would be her top priority if elected to the Dáil, she has said.

A member of the Clonmel based Workers and Unemployed Action Group (WUAG), Seamus Healy has twice served as an independent TD, on and off since 2000. First elected to Clonmel Borough Council in 1985, Healy has especially championed various healthcare causes and was a hospital administrator at South Tipperary General Hospital. He has served as a County Councillor on numerous occasions, having been first co-opted for Cllr Pat English. He was re-elected to South Tipperary County Council in 2009. He lost his Dáil seat in 2020. Healy has a strong support base around Clonmel, and the full backing of the WUAG election machine, which has Councillors on Clonmel Borough District and Tipperary County Council.

Born in Clonmel, Myriam Madigan moved to Dublin aged nine, then further afield. The Green Party candidate for Tipperary South has said she is an active supporter of Buy/Eat/Grow Local, energy efficiency, re-purposing, walking, public transport, local beautification and planting trees. She is a certified Climate-Change Coach and a member of several environmental groups. Ms Madigan’s priorities are health, home and the environment.

Originally from Derry, Rosemary McGlone, of Dromore, Co Down is a teacher. She has also been an Aontú candidate in South Down. She has campaigned for what she calls “real investment to support families in need of childcare.”

First elected to the Dáil on the Fianna Fáil ticket in 2007, Mattie McGrath left the party to run as an independent in 2011, and has been re-elected twice since then. He is a leader of the Rural Independent Group in the Dáil. Prior to that, he served as an FF councillor in South Tipperary County Council from 1999 to 2007, and was its chairperson in 2004-05. The Newcastle TD has made headlines for his views opposing abortion, same sex marriage, immigration, and the Covid 19 restrictions. Perceived as a ‘man of the people’ by his supporters, McGrath is known for his colourful electioneering style and Dáil performances. His daughter, Mairín McGrath, is an independent councillor.

The National Alliance announced the candidacy of John McGrath of The National Party - An Páirtí Náisiúnta for the Tipperary South constituency on September 20, making him the sixth candidate running with the National Alliance. Mr McGrath has worked in the construction sector for most of his life, and presently works as a trucker. His top concerns are immigration, sovereignty, free speech and identity, and opposes what he terms ‘globalist’ organisations.

Clonmel Mayor Michael Murphy saw off stiff competition from party colleague, Senator Garrett Ahearn, to be selected as Fine Gael’s candidate to contest Tipperary South. The former Cathaoirleach of Tipperary County Council was first elected to the then South Tipperary County Council in 2009 and has been re-elected at every local election since then. Cllr Murphy lives in Clonmel with his wife Jacinta and their son Alex. Now the Mayor of Clonmel for the second time, he has also served on the EU Committee of the Regions since 2015, and has 30 years’ experience as a senior executive with the Enfer Technology Group.

Independent Cllr John O’Heney was first elected to Tipperary County Council in the local elections of this year when he topped the poll in the Tipperary town area, where he lives. Cllr O’Heney is a Commissioner for Oaths, and serves in the Tipperary Cahir Cashel LEA. Cllr O’Heney has told local media that he expects that independent Deputy Mattie McGrath and Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne will be elected and that he is in contention for the third seat. His main priorities are supporting SMEs, rural issues, public transport, agriculture, housing and tackling anti-social behaviour. Cllr O’Heney is known for his deep involvement in local sporting and civic organisations.

Independent Ireland announced the candidacy of Nadaline Webster on October 10. Ms Webster is a marketing and strategy consultant in the legal technology field with a focus on intellectual property law, and says she has deep commitment to the issues affecting rural Ireland. Ms Webster has over a decade of experience in helping start-ups grow from early funding stages to equity events. Hailing from a farming background, some of her top concerns include food security, energy, transport, and rural way of life.