Constituency Profile:
There has been a significant boundary change in this rural constituency since 2007. A population of 5,098 in the Deelis, Kilgobban, Knockglass, Bartregaum, Kilfelim, Cordal and Castleisland areas has been transferred in from Kerry North-West Limerick.
The main towns in Kerry South are Killarney and Dingle, while smaller urban centres include Caherciveen, Kenmare, Killorglin, Sneem and Castleisland, which moves into the constituency from Kerry North.
The constituency, which has a higher average age than the State as a whole, experienced population growth of 6.4% between 2002 and 2006, compared to 8.2% nationally. Taking account of the most recent boundary changes, the population in 2006 stood at 75,489.
Kerry South is home to many internationally renowned beauty spots around Killarney and the 'Ring of Kerry', and tourism remains the mainstay of the local economy and a major source of employment. Other key employers include the Japanese-owned pharmaceutical company Astellas in Killorglin, and the Irish-owned multinational Fexco, which has bases in Caherciveen and Killorglin.
Decentralisation has also brought the Legal Aid Board and an office of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport to the constituency in recent years.
Constituency Boundaries: There has been a significant boundary change since 2007. (See above)
Seats: Three
2007 Quota: 9,759
2011 Candidates
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Richard Behal - Independent
Richard Behal is an Independent candidate in the Kerry South constituency.
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Oonagh Comerford - Green Party
Oonagh Comerford is the Green Party candidate for the Killorglin area in the 2009 local elections. Comerford is a first-time Dáil candidate.
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Dermot Finn - Independent
Dermot Finn is an Independent candidate in the Kerry South constituency.
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Tom Fleming - Independent
Tom Fleming is a long-serving Councillor that has contested two previous general elections for Fianna Fáil, but became an Independent in January 2011.
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Michael Gleeson - South Kerry Independent Alliance
The sole candidate for the South Kerry Independent Alliance in this election, Michael Gleeson is a member of Kerry County Council for the Killarney area. He is contesting his second general election, having stood as an independent in 1997.
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Michael Healy Rae - Independent
A member of Kerry County Council since 1999, Michael Healy Rae is attempting to retain the seat of his father, outgoing TD Jackie Healy Rae.
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Brendan Griffin - Fine Gael
Dingle-based and a member of Kerry Council since 2009, 28-year-old Brendan Griffin is contesting his first general election.
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Marie Moloney - Labour Party
Elected to Kerry County Council in 2009, this is Marie Moloney's first general election. She is currently the Deputy Mayor of Killarney.
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John O'Donoghue - Fianna Fáil
First elected to the Dáíl in 1987, John O'Donoghue is a former minister for Justice. He resigned as Ceann Comhairle in October 2009.
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Tom Sheahan - Fine Gael
Elected at his first attempt in 2007, Tom Sheahan became the first Fine Gael TD in Kerry South for 18 years.
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Sitting TDs: John O'Donoghue (FF), Tom Sheahan (FG), Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind)
TDs not seeking re-election: Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind)
General Election 2007:
Fine Gael improved its performance here significantly in 2007, with its vote increasing to 25.1%, allowing Tom Sheahan from Rathmore to take the seat of Labour’s Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, assisted by transfers from running mate Séamus Cosaí Mac Gearailt.
Fianna Fáil’s vote decreased by 4% to 40.7%, but John O’Donoghue still topped the poll with 23.4% of first preferences.
The final seat went to Jackie Healy-Rae, who failed to reach the quota but managed to stay ahead of Breeda Moynihan-Cronin and Fianna Fáil’s Tom Fleming.
Mr Fleming actually came second on the first preference vote, but Mr Sheahan and Mr Healy-Rae both attracted more transfers, especially from Breeda Moynihan-Cronin. Sinn Féin’s Lynn Ní Bhaoighealláin managed 3.5% of the vote.
2002 Turnout: 71.5 %
2007 Turnout: 73.3 %
Oireachtas Constituency Information
Twitter hashtag: #kys
