Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will run alongside Cllr Janice Boylan in Dublin Central as the party pursues a two-candidate strategy in the Sinn Féin leader’s constituency.
Ms McDonald and Ms Boylan were unopposed in their candidacy. Moreover, it is understood the party has no intention of adding any further names to the ticket. While the duo have been close friends for some time, relations soured towards the end of 2022.
Before Christmas of that year, Ms Boylan had written a letter to party members stating that she was “humiliated numerous times” and that the party had failed to support her.
Although it later transpired that she had not ultimately resigned from the party, she wrote at the time that she could not stay “where I am not supported, valued or even really respected”.
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Ms McDonald subsequently tweeted a photograph of herself and Ms Boylan out walking in an indication that differences had been resolved. Ms Boylan had also written about how she had been overlooked for a role in Ms McDonald’s constituency office.
“However, unfortunately, I was told I wasn’t successful. This has only further shown me what my reality has been for two years.” Afterwards, Sinn Féin said she remained a valued member of the party. The two have appeared numerous times at media events since then.
Ms Boylan, from O’Devaney Gardens in Dublin 8 originally, is married with three children.
Sinn Féin has not only decided to pursue a two-candidate strategy in Dublin Central but also in many other constituencies countrywide.
Can Sinn Féin reverse its decline in popularity before the election?
The party is expected to run 65 to 70 candidates in the forthcoming general election. In the 2020 election, Sinn Féin was accused of running too few candidates as many of those who ran commanded huge votes with often multiple quotas which could have brought in a running mate.
Yet in this summer’s local and European elections, the party commanded less than 12 per cent of the national vote and more than 200 councillors were unsuccessful.
Asked recently about the party’s slide in polls, Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin is “well aware” of the work it needs to do, but is determined. She said the challenge is to “make it clear” that there is an alternative and choice in Irish politics.
“We got the message to shape up, to get cracking, to be connected and vocal and we’re back now. We’ve worked hard over the summer and we are now coming back into this Dáil term with a real sense of renewed purpose and renewed determination,” she added.
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