Cork independent who ran for 11 seats in 2020 declares for Wicklow

Sean O'Leary, 66, from Cork, is the newest candidate to declare for Wicklow, with Taoiseach Simon Harris, Minister Stephen Donnelly and three further TDs set to be among his opponents.

Mr O'Leary ran in Kerry, Cork and in five Dublin constituencies four years ago, going up against the sitting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dublin West.

Famously, the businessman from Kerry Pike conducted his campaign from a hospital trolley and a campervan, seeking to shine a light on healthcare issues and homelessness. Other key issues for him in 2020 were carbon emissions, pollution and public transport.

He is believed to be a father-of-six, with his youngest Tara having being crowned Miss Cork in 2017.

Having campaigned so publicly last time, Mr O'Leary is this year keeping his cards closer to his chest. With the deadline for nominations for all constituencies falling at 12pm on Saturday, it remains to be seen whether he will again choose to run for multiple seats.

A total of 13 candidates are expected to declare for Wicklow before that deadline, including the Taoiseach, Fine Gael running mate Edward Timmins, Fianna Fáil Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and fellow TDs Jennifer Whitmore (Social Democrats), John Brady (Sinn Féin) and Steven Matthews (Green Party).

Four seats are up for grabs, the constituency having shrunk from five seats following the creation of the new Wicklow-Wexford constituency.

There are also three further independents believed to be joining Mr O'Leary on the ballot - Shay Cullen, snubbed by Fine Gael for selection, Rob Carry and Cllr Joe Behan – as well as representatives from Aontú, Labour and People Before Profit.