Two broadcasters, a controversial artist and a gangland criminal - The 'celebrity' candidates in General Election '24
It’s not uncommon for ‘celebrities’ or well-known faces to turn into politicians, and in a lot of cases, they do very well
Two broadcasters, an artist, and a convicted criminal are among the almost 700 candidates fighting for a seat in the upcoming General Election.
It’s not uncommon for ‘celebrities’ or well-known faces to turn into politicians, and in a lot of cases, they do very well. Across the pond, former reality star and businessman Donald Trump became the first-ever US president to be elected for a second term after losing a previous election.
Here, former jockey and television personality Nina Carberry won a seat with Fine Gael as an MEP for the Midlands-North-West earlier this year. It was a competitive constituency, but having a familiar face has its positives.
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Check out some of the 'celebrity' candidates battling for a seat in this year's election below.
Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch
For the upcoming General Election, Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, one of Ireland’s most well-known gangland criminals, has put his name in the hat. He arrived at Dublin Airport last week from Lanzarote to a media frenzy.
Just a week before, the 61-year-old was released from prison on €100,000 bail having been arrested under a Spanish money laundering investigation.
Despite being on bail, the Spanish courts allowed him to leave the country and return to Ireland because he is running in the upcoming election. He will be fighting for a seat in Dublin Central alongside Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe and Social Democrat Garry Gannon.
While the veteran criminal has spent years running away from the media, Hutch said he’s confident he can win a seat, as he believes he has unofficially worked as a politician in the area for decades.
Gráinne Seoige
In Galway West, television star Gráinne Seoige is hoping to win one of five seats in the constituency with Fianna Fáil. She is bidding to retain the seat held by Eamon Ó Cúiv, the grandson of party founder Eamon de Valera.
He has been a formidable vote-getter since first gaining the seat in 1992, and he announced his retirement earlier this year. However, a well-known face and the hope of staunch Ó Cúiv voters transferring to Seoige might not be enough for the newbie politician.
Sixteen candidates have declared for Galway West, and according to a recent poll by Ipsos B&A for TG4, it looks to be a difficult battle for the TV star. Independent candidate Catherine Connolly is polling very strongly at 13 per cent in the constituency and Noel Grealish, also an Independent, is at 12 per cent.
There is also a strong possibility of two seats for Fine Gael as Hildegarde Naughton is at 13 per cent and Seán Kyne at 10 per cent. Fianna Fail’s candidates, Seoige and John Connolly, are neck and neck with 7 per cent. However, the broadcaster may be in luck as according to statisticians, she is more transfer friendly.
Alison Comyn
Another television star throwing her name in the hat with Fianna Fáil is Alison Comyn.
The IFTA-winning journalist was a former UTV Ireland anchor who fronted a weekday news and current affairs programme before its closure in 2016. She also worked for the BBC, Sky News, Channel 4, RTÉ and the Drogheda Independent.
Born and raised in Drogheda, Alison said she knows the “stories, struggles and successes” of the community, and believes she can bring “a positive new dawn” for the town. However, it won’t be easy for the journalist.
Louth will have the largest ballot paper in the country, as 25 candidates will be fighting for just five seats.
Kevin Sharkey
Another familiar face hoping to join the Dáil is world-famous painter Kevin Sharkey.
The artist is running as an independent in Donegal and is hoping to create “the biggest protest vote in State history”. It’s not the first time Sharkey has tried to break into politics, as he hoped to become Ireland’s first black president when he ran in the election in 2018.
Controversial and outspoken, the painter said his main issue with the Irish Government is its stance on immigration. He previously told the Irish Mirror: “I want to hold the Government to task in a way that a white man doesn’t seem to be able to do for fear of being labelled.
"Currently in Ireland, if you say there might be an issue with immigration, you're branded a racist to shut you up.”
Alan Shatter
While Alan Shatter’s name became known through politics, the former Fine Gael politician became a well-known face and was even featured on the TV3 reality show The Restaurant. A Fine Gael TD for 30 years until he lost his seat in the 2016 election, Shatter is running again in Dublin Rathdown, but as an independent. His candidacy has certainly raised eyebrows.
In 2014, he resigned from Cabinet as Minister for Defence as then Taoiseach Enda Kenny told him privately he could no longer express confidence in him after a review into allegations made by whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe about police misconduct.
Shatter was vindicated two years later in the O’Higgins Commission but ceased to be a member of Fine Gael in 2018, as he said there was a “loss of moral compass” within the party.
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