77 contenders are vying to secure one of the 29 available positions within the five local voting regions of Louth County Council. Fianna Fáil emerged as the main victor in 2019, gaining an additional two seats, bringing their total to seven. Concurrently, Sinn Féin suffered a loss of three seats, including those in Drogheda and Dundalk, which reduced them to seven councillors. Former local TD Gerry Adams attributed this loss to local issues and voter management problems. It remains to be seen whether the party can regain lost ground, given its increased popularity in recent polls.
Labour Party secured three seats in the previous election, an achievement that Ged Nash (a former senator, now TD) claimed was the party’s finest performance in Louth’s local elections.
The primary concerns facing the constituents, according to the candidates, primarily revolve around infrastructure and housing. A number of adults expressed difficulty in leaving their parental homes, voicing their desire for more affordable homeownership and rental opportunities. The recent judicial review petition by an environmental group against Ardee Bypass was dismissed by the High Court. Candidates reported this and the condition of tertiary roads as significant concerns for the county’s voters.
The distribution of seats is as follows: Ardee has six, Drogheda Rural and Drogheda Urban both hold four and six seats, respectively. Dundalk – Carlingford holds six, and Dundalk South has seven seats.
The 2024 elections include the European Election, alongside the local campaigns in Dublin, MNW, Ireland South and various other regions, including Limerick, Carlow, Cavan, and Clare through to Wicklow.
The 2019 Louth County Council results can be viewed separately for a comprehensive understanding. Full electoral specifics are available for both the Local Elections and the European Election, along with the most current political and public sentiment polls.