The upcoming local elections in 2024 for the Louth County Council are eagerly anticipated, as 77 hopefuls vie for 29 amenities across five local voting regions.
In the previous election held in 2019, Fianna Fáil emerged as the major victor, gaining two additional positions to ultimately secure seven council seats. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s representation dwindled by three positions, even losing out in Dundalk and Drogheda, leaving them with a remaining seven. Their local Member of Parliament at the time, Gerry Adams, put this down to local concerns and vote management problems. Given the party’s improved standing in recent opinion polls, it would be intriguing to observe whether they can recover lost ground this time.
In 2019, the Labour Party took away three council spaces, an affair labelled as Labour’s finest showing in Louth’s local elections by Ged Nash, the then senator and current Member of Parliament.
The candidates point out that the recurring issues raised by residents primarily correspond to transportation networks and housing. Several adults are reportedly unable to move away from their parental homes and are seeking more reasonably priced buying and renting options. An environmentalist group’s application for a judicial review against the Ardee Bypass was recently rejected by the High Court. The candidates note that both these elements, along with the state of the district roads, are turning out to be crucial aspects for the county’s voters.
In the 2024 elections, the seats encompass six positions in Ardee, four in Drogheda Rural, six in both Drogheda Urban and Dundalk – Carlingford, and seven in Dundalk South.
You can view the results of the 2019 Louth County Council and the latest political and public opinion surveys for an overview of the state of politics in the county. The elections will also be taking place in numerous other areas around Ireland, including Dublin, Cork, Carlow and Donegal, to name a few.