General Election: Donegal has firm interest in Sligo-Leitrim constituency

Nine electoral divisions in south Donegal, taking in over 9,000 people, will vote in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency later this month.

The large area of the south of the county includes the urban areas of Bundoran and Ballyshannon.

Although it remains open to declare candidacy until Saturday, there is, as yet, no-one either from or resident in County Donegal set for inclusion on the ballot in this constituency.

“There is a total disengagement between those people and their constituency of Sligo-Leitrim,” former Tanaiste Mary Coughlan said earlier this year.

“We in Donegal want to be in Donegal. It is a matter of massive discontent and it has completely being reflected in our local election participation in towns of Ballyshannon and Bundoran where only 42% and 43% went out to vote because they didn't think that it made any difference because they felt they weren't being represented in Donegal.”

Sitting TD Marc MacSharry is not running again. Having stepped down from Fianna Fáil in 2022, he is retiring from politics here.

There is still a MacSharry on the paper, though, through his cousin Edel, a Fianna Fáil candidate.

READ NEXT: General Election: Battle awaits as Donegal's Dáil seats up for grabs

Last time out, Martin Kenny took over 26% of the vote and will be confident again while Independent Marian Harkin has decided to go again having indicated that she might step down.

The former MEP, who is now 70, will face opposition from her former assistant Marie Casserly, a County Councillor.

Sligo-Leitrim Constituency

Population: 114,781
Seats available: 4
Outgoing: Frankie Feighan (Fine Gael); Marian Harkin (Independent); Martin Kenny (Sinn Féin); Marc MacSharry (Independent)
Candidates so far: Marie Casserly (Independent), Michael Clarke (Indepedent Ireland), Nessa Cosgrove (Labour Party), Frank Feighan (Fine Gael), Bláithín Gallagher (Green Party), Marian Harkin (Independent), Michael Kelly (Irish People), Martin Kenny (Sinn Féin), Chris MacManus (Sinn Féin), Edel McSharry (Fianna Fáil), Graham Monaghan (Aontú), Paddy O'Rourke (Fianna Fáil), and Eamon Scanlan (Fianna Fáil)