Tipperary North Election 2024: Who are the candidates and who could make gains? Everything you need to know before voting

In the west, a small portion of land around Newport and Birdhill is being 'returned' to Tipperary North, making for an interesting battle as candidates seek to appeal to voters previously beyond the borders.

Current TDs (the five-seater is splitting and changing to a three-seater) Martin Browne (SF), Jackie Cahill (FF), Alan Kelly (Labour), Michael Lowry (Ind), Mattie McGrath (Ind).

Who could make gains here? Labour Party TD Alan Kelly and independent TD Michael Lowry are both considered strong in this constituency with the possible final seat being fought over by one of the two Fianna Fáil candidates, and, or, Fine Gael.

Fianna Fáil has taken the decision to run two candidates in this three seater, Cllrs Ryan O'Meara and Michael Smith, son of the former Minister. Some have speculated this could split the FF vote, leaving the field open for Fine Gael's Phyll Bugler to take a seat.

In the 2020 general election, former Labour leader Alan Kelly topped the poll in the areas around Nenagh and over to Ballina, while the Thurles based Lowry dominated most of the southern part of Tipperary North, up to the M7 motorway.

Independent Cllr Joe Hannigan won large support around Borrisokane, and Jackie Cahill won the Fianna Fáil vote. With Cahill out of the race, it remains to be seen if Fianna Fáil's move of running two candidates pays off. If FF were to take two seats it would be considered a major coup for the party.

What issues are under the spotlight? The main election talking points in North Tipperary are housing, public transport, especially for rural areas, healthcare, with an emphasis on overcrowding in Nenagh Hospital. Other hot topics include the long running saga of a bypass for Thurles, and immigration IPAS centres in Roscrea and Borrisokane.

Farming issues are also the fore in this large constituency with a series of towns separated from each other by sparsely populated areas. As with Tipperary South, progress on wastewater treatment plants, new housing projects in villages, and planning issues are regularly top of the agenda at local authority meetings, as villages and towns expand

Alan Kelly, Labour*

Michael Lowry, Independent / Lowry Team*

Dr Phyll Bugler, Fine Gael

Dan Harty, Sinn Féin

Iva Pocock, Green Party

Peter Madden, Independent/National Alliance

Jim Ryan, Independent

Ryan O'Meara, Fianna Fáil

Michael Smith, Fianna Fáil

Francis O'Toole, Aontú

Diana O'Dwyer, People Before Profit

Further candidates may be added to the ballot