Who are the candidates in the Dublin Central by-election?
A crowded field of candidates has emerged in Dublin Central, with housing, crime and cost of living among the key issues shaping the by-election campaign.
The by-election was triggered by the departure of former Fine Gael TD Paschal Donohoe to take up a role at the World Bank, with multiple candidates now contesting the vacant seat from across the political spectrum.
Ray McAdam (Fine Gael)
Fine Gael candidate Ray McAdam, the current Lord Mayor of Dublin, is running on a platform that includes housing delivery, public safety and maintaining a Government presence in the constituency.
McAdam, who topped the poll in the north inner city at the last local election, has served 17 years on Dublin City Council and previously worked for two decades as a constituency and parliamentary assistant to Donohoe. He graduated in political science from Trinity College.
He said voters are seeking progress on key local issues.
“Across Dublin Central, people are clear,” McAdam said on social media.
“They want safer streets, more homes, cleaner communities and a strong local voice that can get things done.”
He added that retaining Government representation is central to his campaign.
“That is the case I am putting forward in this campaign,” he continued.
“Dublin Central needs to retain its voice in Government. As one person said to me yesterday, what would a fourth Opposition TD do that three Opposition TDs cannot do already?”
McAdam has also said that law and order is a priority and that he believes Dublin has become safer under Fine Gael’s tenure in Government.
John Stephens (Fianna Fáil)
Fianna Fáil candidate John Stephens is a councillor and father of two. His campaign is focused on anti-social behaviour, the cost of living, including more low-level local issues such as tree pruning.
“I’ve been working in the Council to deliver better public spaces in Dublin Central,” Stephens said.
“The pedestrianisation of Capel Street is going from strength the strength.”
He also raised concerns about healthcare provision in the area.
“The new Children’s Hospital is going to be great for Dublin and the country,” he said.
“But with all services moving to the Southside it’s going to cause a gap here in our community where families have been using these services for generations.”
Janice Boylan (Sinn Féin)
Sinn Féin candidate Janice Boylan is a Dublin City councillor for the North Inner City area and has held the role since 2014. She ran in the 2024 general election alongside party leader Mary Lou McDonald but received a disappointing 1,257 first-preference votes and did not ultimately win a seat.
Speaking to the Journal.ie recently, she said immigration had not been raised as an issue on the campaign trail.
“It genuinely hasn’t come up, so far anyway,” she said.
She is campaigning primarily on cost of living issues and positioning her candidacy as a protest message against the Government to make them “listen” to ordinary people’s concerns.
Boylan originally grew up in O’Devaney Gardens and Greek Street, but says she was forced to move to Donabate due to the lack of affordable housing in her old area.
Ian Noel Smith (Aontú)
Aontú candidate Ian Noel Smith is an architect and former Green Party member who has contested elections in Dublin Central in 2016, 2020 and 2024, as well as local elections in 2014 and 2024. On social media he currently describes himself as an “environmentalist” and “green builder” who supports “sustainability in landscape”.
Smith has said he did not regret his time in the Green Party, but left because he believed it was not delivering sufficient change, and that Aontú is a better vehicle for improving the lives of ordinary people.
Housing is a central issue in his campaign, with Smith citing his professional background as an architect as granting him credibility on the issue.
He has proposed eliminating VAT on building materials and reducing delays in the planning system to increase supply. He has also called for a five-year residency requirement for non-EU nationals seeking to purchase homes or access council housing, describing it as “common sense”.
Smith has also called for the scrapping of carbon tax and for improvements in the State’s ability to deliver major infrastructure projects such as the national children’s hospital. He has said Aontú is the fastest growing political party in the State. He received 715 first-preference votes in the 2024 general election.
Daniel Ennis (Social Democrats)
Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis is a Dublin City councillor elected in June 2024 and previously worked in the constituency office of Dublin Central TD Gary Gannon.
His campaign focuses on community safety, crime, drug dealing, housing standards, cost of living and support for sports clubs and facilities. He has also addressed social cohesion and opposition to anti-migration protest movements in his area.
“My politics is simple,” Ennis said.
“Respect, decency and hope for our communities – and a clear stand against the poisonous politics of hate and distortion.”
He also spoke about crime, saying that investment was needed and that we can’t “police our way out of this.”
“Parts of Dublin don’t feel safe and people are right to say it,” he said.
“We need visible policing now, but we also need long-term investment in communities, youth services and sports. We can’t police our way out of this.”
His party has also stated that he entered politics in response to what it described as “division” arising from local migration protests.
Ruth O’Dea (Labour)
Labour candidate Ruth O’Dea works as an aide to Dublin Central TD Marie Sherlock and previously spent more than a decade working with Women’s Aid. She has lived in the north inner city for 30 years and describes herself as a “feminist activist”.
Her campaign centres on housing and improved public services, alongside issues relating to workers’ rights and equality.
She has highlighted her involvement in campaigns such as the repeal of the Eighth Amendment and membership of the trade union SIPTU.
“[Women] are still fighting for equal pay,” O’Dea said.
She also criticised Government policy on refugee family reunification, saying “how dare they” and that she was “horrified” by such measures.
“We should be thankful that people want to come here,” she said.
“And make it easier with a smooth route to get on with their lives.”
She added: “We force asylum seekers to sleep rough to prove they have an accommodation need,” O’Dea said.
“And by blocking family reunification we’re telling refugees that they can’t live a full life here. It’s shameful and those of us who believe in fairness, equality and diversity have to push back.”
O’Dea also supports the policy of “Vote Left, Transfer Left”.
Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (People Before Profit)
People Before Profit candidate Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin is a community activist, Gaeilgeoir and ecosocialist who previously ran in the 2024 general election and local elections, narrowly missing out on a council seat. He is active with groups including the Affordable Ireland Campaign, United Against Racism and the Community Action Tenants Union.
His campaign includes proposals on housing, energy price controls and free public transport, as well as international policy positions.
“The response to the government and the far right must be more support for ordinary people, migrants and non-migrants alike,” Ó Ceannabháin said.
“And must not give an inch to racist or anti-LGBT+ scapegoating.”
He has also called for a boycott of Israel and the introduction of sanctions.
“We need a complete and total boycott of the apartheid Israeli state,” he said.
“That is why we must take action, stand against the crime of genocide and implement thorough sanctions now.”
Janet Horner (Green Party)
Green Party candidate Janet Horner is a Dublin City councillor of seven years and a former development worker who has worked overseas in Palestine, India and Uganda. She previously worked for Senator Alice Mary Higgins and campaigned for President Michael D Higgins.
Her campaign focuses on environmental and social policy, including housing, energy and equality measures. She has also supported initiatives involving NGOs and social inclusion.
She has described engaging with concepts of “feminist climate justice” and met with representatives from Oxfam to discuss related policies.
Horner has also supported organisations such as Outhouse and efforts to include LGBTQ+ people as a “priority group” in social inclusion strategies.
“I fought for repeal of the 8th amendment, I fought for marriage equality,” Horner said.
“…So I am well able for those robust conversations, and I enjoy hearing what people have to say.”
She has also supported State funding for wildlife rescuers and carers.
Mannix Flynn (Independent)
Independent candidate Mannix Flynn is a playwright, artist and long-serving Dublin City councillor since 2009. He is campaigning on housing, public services, support for small businesses, law and order and affordability. He is opposed to the liberalisation of drugs.
Flynn has described himself as being on the “independent Left”.
He spent much of his childhood in state institutions.
His leaflet features silhouettes of each of the major political parties, with text that reads “The Usual Suspects – Don’t do the same thing expecting different results”.
Flynn has previously contested elections in Dublin Bay South and received 479 first-preference votes in the 2024 general election.
Malachy Steenson (Independent)
Independent candidate Malachy Steenson is a solicitor and Dublin City councillor elected in 2024. He has been involved in protest campaigns relating to migration and describes himself as an Irish Republican and small business owner.
His campaign focuses on migration, housing, cost of living and public services. He has been harshly critical of both the Government and the Leftwing opposition alike.
“In April 2025 we organised a rally that saw 50,000 people marching down O’Connell Street in protest of this government,” Steenson said.
“Immigration, cost of living, housing, health. The list is endless.”
He added: “Imagine we have political parties and politicians who would come out and protest against Irish people wanting a better quality of life for our people?” he said, adding: “And then they’ll knock at your door and tell you they represent you.”
Gerry Hutch (Independent)
Independent candidate Gerry Hutch, also known as “The Monk”, narrowly missed out on a seat in the last general election in Dublin Central.
During the campaign thus far, Hutch has made some newsworthy remarks on immigration policy, saying that some immigrants were coming to Ireland from other safe European countries “because it’s a freebie and they’re getting paid.”
“I think they should be all interned,” Hutch said.
“They should be put in the Curragh camp until they’re sorted, and fed, not given any money, not given any houses.”
He said that Irish people had “gone too posh” to do certain jobs, like working in McDonalds, and that foreign workers could do these. He also referenced some nationalities as being more “genuine” than others, referencing Indians in particular, while indicating that Somalians were more likely to be illegal migrants.
“The illegal ones, feed them, put them on the boat and send them back.”
He was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne in connection with the 2016 Regency Hotel shooting, although the court described him as the leader of an organised crime group. He is also facing a tax bill of nearly €800,000 from the Criminal Assets Bureau and a money-laundering investigation in Spain.
Colm Flood (Independent)
Independent candidate Colm Flood is a student living in Bray, County Wicklow, who contested the 2024 local elections in Bray West and received 61 first-preference votes. He has supported fuel protests, and stood with protestors multiple days in a row on O’Connell Street.
He has campaigned on issues including public spending, cost of living and military neutrality.
His platform includes opposition to digital ID and opposing changes to the triple lock, as well as criticism of wasteful spending on major public projects.
“People Before Profit to Independent, I’ve worked tirelessly in the community,” Flood said.
“I am living with an injury causing disability and have never let it slow me down.”
He also said “Vote Independent! Vote @malachysteenson_cllr No. 2 and Colm Flood No. 1! Independents that work for the people, mandated by the people!”
Last year he urged people to vote for Catherine Connolly as President, and has run on slogans including “Vote Left, Vote Colm, Vote for Community!” and “Free Palestine, Stop War, End the Cost Of Living Crisis.”
John O’Leary (Independent)
Independent candidate John O’Leary is a businessman from Kerry Pike in Cork who is running in both the Dublin Central and Galway West by-elections. He has previously contested general elections in multiple constituencies, including running in seven constituencies in the 2024 general election and eleven in 2020.
O’Leary has previously focused on healthcare and homelessness, including campaigning from a hospital trolley and a camper van.
He received a combined 324 first-preference votes across all constituencies he ran in in the 2024 general election.
Tony Corrigan (Independent)
Independent candidate Tony Corrigan is a solicitor from Dublin 17 who is campaigning on cost of living, housing and allegations relating to a lack of institutional oversight to protect the vulnerable.
He has described himself as an advocate for victims of elder abuse and domestic and gender-based violence.
“The cost of living crisis, forcing families into a choice, eat or heat as the price of all goods and services keep rising,” Corrigan said.
“Meaning families are allowed to survive, but not to live.”
He also outlined his views on housing policy and energy usage.
“There is an obvious solution,” he said.
“…preventing US data centres from using 50% of all electricity generated in Dublin, as the constituents in Dublin Central sickeningly subsidise the cost of oil and gas for US data centres.”
He added: “The current government ‘rent for life’ housing policy only benefits property vested interests, as evidenced by always record house prices and rents.”
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The Dublin Central constituency is one of the most densely populated areas in the State, with a mix of long-established communities and newer developments. Issues such as housing supply, crime, cost of living and public services have been central to recent elections in the area, alongside broader national debates on migration and public spending.
