77 seek election to Meath County Council
With nominations for the local elections closed, a total of 77 candidates are preparing to do battle for the 40 seats on Meath County Council.
Of those, 35 are outgoing candidates seeking re-election in the poll which takes place on 24th May.
One of them, Independent councillor, Sharon Keogan is running in two electoral areas - Laytown Bettystown where she is a sitting councillor and Ashbourne, where she narrowly missed out on a seat in 2014.
Fianna Fail is putting forward the biggest team for election with 19 candidates, while Fine Gael is fielding 17.
Sinn Fein is running 10 candidates, while the Labour Party, which once had a sizeable showing on Meath County Council, will run just three candidates in this election.
Ireland's newest political party, Aontu, which was set up by Peadar Toibin will run five candidates, while the Social Democrats have four hopefuls in the race.
The Workers Party, Solidarity - People Before Profit, The Green Party and Direct Democracy Ireland are fielding one candidate each.
Of the 78 candidates, just 28 are women.
The Navan and Latyown Bettystown areas will be the most hotly contested with the largest number of candidates running, with 16 hopesfuls in Navan and 15 in Laytown Bettystown battling it out for seven seats in each district.
The following is the full list of candidates ......
ASHBOURNE
Bonner Joe Non-Party
Jamal Suzanne Fine Gael
Keogan Sharon Non-Party
Mellor Lisa Fianna Fáil
Nolan Paul Social Democrats
O' Neill Aisling Sinn Féin
O' Rourke Darren Sinn Féin
Reilly Sarah-Jane Fianna Fáil
Stillman John Fine Gael
Tobin Alan Fine Gael
Tormey Conor Fianna Fáil
Tuite Joseph Aontú
LAYTOWN/BETTYSTOWN
Behan Tom Fianna Fail
Connor Anthony Direct Democracy Ireland
Corr Rob Social Democrats
Ferguson Eimear Sinn Féin
Harding Wayne Fianna Fáil
Hoey Annie The Labour Party
Kelly Tom Non-Party
Keogan Sharon Non-Party
Lacey William Solidarity – People Before Profit
McKee Stephen Fianna Fáil
Meade Paddy Fine Gael
O' Byrne Fergal Sinn Féin
Smith Patrick Non-Party
Tolan Sharon Fine Gael
Whelan Peter Aontu
NAVAN
Adenuga Yem Fine Gael
Ball Stephen Non-Party
Burke Sinéad Sinn Féin
Byrne Karen Fine Gael
Deane Francis Non-Party
Fennessy Eddie Sinn Féin
Fitzsimons Padraig Fianna Fáil
Forde Wayne Non-Party
Kelly Ross Fine Gael
Lawes Alan 15 Non-Party
McGrath Amy Social Democrats
McHugh Jenny Fianna Fáil
McMenamin Séamus Green Party
Reilly Tommy Fianna Fáil Self
Thornton Madeleine Fianna Fáil
Tóibín Emer Aontú
RATOATH
Fitzgerald Brian Non-Party
Flanagan Bee Fine Gael
Geraghty-Smith Deirdre Fianna Fáil
Henry Seán Non-Party
Killian Nick Non-Party
Murphy Mari Fine Gael
O'Connor Gerr Fine Gael
O'Reilly Damie Fianna Fáil
O’ Riordan Fergu Non-Party
Ruairc Maria Uí Sinn Féin
Toole Gillian Non-Party
TRIM
Dempsey Aisling Fianna Fáil
Doran Des Aontú Self
Fox Joe Fine Gael
French Noel Fine Gael
Geraghty Sinéad Fianna Fáil
Golden Trevor Non-Party
Kelly Vera Fianna Fáil
Lynch Caroline Sinn Féin
McElhinney Tracy The Labour Party
Moore Ronan Social Democrats
Souhan Niamh Fine Gael
KELLS
Bray Mike Fianna Fáil
Byrne Aaron The Labour Party
Cassidy Eugene Fine Gael
Devin Peter Aontú
Drew Seán Fianna Fáil
Farrelly Peter Fine Gael
Fox Oliver Fianna Fáil
Gallagher Michael Sinn Féin
Gilroy David Non-Party
Guirke Johnny Sinn Féin
McCabe Paul Fianna Fáil
McDonagh Séamus Workers' Party
Reilly Sarah Fine Gael