On our Meath coastline with the beaches of Mornington, Laytown and Bettystown this area  has witnessed a population explosion

in recent years. It also a large geographical area with a lot of the newer developments along the coast. Many of the residents

would probably see Drogheda as the main town serving the needs of area but it expands right into Slane. Some of the parishes

are much closer to Navan than Drogheda.

With  growth of Duleek, also part of the east Meath area, were it could be regarded heartland of the Keogan sisters.

Sharon, now a senator and Geraldine a sitting councillor co-opted on her sisters success in the Seanad back in 2020.

Another one of the 7 seaters, again it sees all candidates looking to be re-elected in this election. There are 16 contesting the district.

In 2019 Sharon Keogan topped the poll with 2039 votes closely followed by another Sharon ! -Sharon Tolan polled over 1774  votes

and was followed by third place in the first count of party colleague Fine Gael’s, Paddy Meade who pulled in  1,455 No 1’s. The three candidates

were all elected in the first count. The fourth home was Labour’s Annie Hoey which then allowed Elaine McGinty to coopted to the seat in 2020.

The three Fianna Fáil men, Slane’s Wayne Harding (1196 first preference votes) 1451, Duleek’s Stephen McKee (1023 first preference votes) 1432

and Laytown’s Tom Behan (861 first preference votes) 1164 completed the numbers in the electoral area. In all 15  people contested in the last election. There will be 16 candidates

this time round. How will the votes fall in June will be interesting to see and nothing can be taken for granted. This time round Peter Whelan carries the aspirations

of Aontú into the ring. Sinn Féin have Balrath based  plumber Séamus Lynch and from the coast at Mornington, Maria White challenging for votes. The Green’s run one

candidate Cathal Mac Réamoinn a local businessman from Julianstown. In Duleek, auctioneer, Declan O’Neill will be hoping to make inroads for Fine Gael as it is a well populated

area now. They may hope there is newfound confidence with the new leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris for the party.  There are a further three non party candidates, Patrick Smith,

Carol Lennon and Marjeta Qevani based in Mosney Accommodation Centre. There is also the addition of Independent Ireland party candidate Raymond Westlake based in Julianstown along the coast. This will be challenging district for all involved come the Friday in early June.

 

Behan Tom                       Landscaper                        Fianna Fáil
Harding Wayne              Publican                              Fianna Fáil
Keogan Geraldine          IT Consultant                    Non-Party
Lennon Carol                        Barrister                            Non-Party
Lynch Séamus                     Plumber                              Sinn Féin
Mac Réamoinn Cathal       Local Business Owner     Green Party
McGinty Elaine               Financial Advisor             Labour
McKee Stephen               School Teacher                 Fianna Fáil
Meade Paddy                   Self-Employed                  Fine Gael
O’Neill Declan                     Auctioneer                         Fine Gael
Qevani Marjeta                    Hotel Worker                   Non-Party
Smith Patrick                       Postman                            Non-Party
Tolan Sharon                   County Councillor            Fine Gael
Westlake Raymond             Clinical Scientist              Independent Ireland
Whelan Peter                        Farmer                               Aontú
White Maria                         School Principal               Sinn Féin