'Return of the old guard' as former TDs battle for seats
Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner Political Reporter
This weekend’s local and European elections are likely to be remembered as the return of the old guard as several former TDs and high-profile figures battle for seats.
Some of these have been dubbed the Renaissance candidates.
Among those are former ministers from the last disgraced Fianna Fáil government, including Mary Hanafin who will take a seat in Blackrock and Sean Haughey in Clontarf, Dublin.
Elsewhere, former Green TD Ciaran Cuffe looks likely to get into the north inner city while Sinn Féin’s Chris Andrews, a former Fianna Fáil TD, will top the poll in Pembroke-South Dock.
Former Green Party minister Eamon Ryan is likely to take a Dublin MEP seat while the party’s former TD Paul Gogarty should take a council seat as an Independent in the Dublin county regions.
Elsewhere, the local elections have seen a host of former TDs and senators from different parties put themselves forward for council seats around the country, including Eamon Scanlon in Sligo, Charlie O'Connor in Tallaght and Dan Boyle in Cork.
