Increase in number of female candidates contesting election in Cork constituencies

The number of female candidates running in Cork has increased substantially since the last general election in 2020.

Across Cork’s five constituencies, 30 female candidates are in the running, 14 more than stood four years ago when just one female candidate was elected, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns (Cork South West). 

There were 248 women nominated across the country, the latest figures from Women for Election showed.

There is one female Fianna Fáil candidate in each of Cork East, Cork North Central, and Cork South Central; Fine Gael has female candidates in Cork South Central (1) and Cork North Central (2); Sinn Féin is running three female candidates, one each in Cork North West, Cork South West, and Cork South Central.

The majority of the female candidates represent parties other than the three main groupings. 

The Social Democrats are running women in Cork South West and Cork North Central. Labour has female candidates in Cork South Central and Cork South West, and the Green Party is represented by women in every Cork constituency apart from Cork North Central. Aontú has female candidates in Cork North West, Cork South West, Cork East, and Cork South Central.

Four female candidates are carrying the Independent Ireland standard, one each in Cork East and Cork North West and two in Cork South Central.

Growing number 

The growing number of candidates comes in the wake of the local elections when the female representation on Cork City Council was reduced by one to five councillors, and on Cork County Council from 18 to 16.

Colette Finn, the Green Party nominee in Cork North West, said that there are “more established male cultures” in some parties, and this is an obstacle to women being elected.

“What the quotas have done is highlighted the issue that women are not being selected to the winnable seats and they’re being added to the tickets as an afterthought or to satisfy the gender quota,” said Ms Finn.

Difference

However, Úna McCarthy, who is running for Fine Gael in Cork South Central, said that gender quotas “do make a difference”, and that she is proud of her party’s role in bringing them forward following the 2011 election

“This meant that in 2016 and 2020, political parties had to run a minimum of 30% of female candidates and this increased to 40% for the 2024 General Election.”

She said that the women contesting the 2024 General Election are ‘highly skilled and come from a range of backgrounds, including business, adult education, Defence Dorces etc’.