The A-to-Z of Election 24 so far

Continuing with Conor McMorrow's General Election A-to-Z, D is for Dynasties.

Politics is a family affair, and Election 2024 sees several candidates seeking to emulate a parent who was elected to the Dáil in a previous era.

In Meath West, Aisling Dempsey, the daughter of former Fianna Fáil TD and Minister Noel Dempsey is contesting her first general election. In Dublin West, Fine Gael senator Emer Currie is contesting in the constituency where her late father Austin was a TD from 1989 to 2002.

In Tipperary North, Michael Smith is contesting for Fianna Fáil. He is the son of the former Minister, TD and Senator of the same name.

In Waterford, Fine Gael Senator John Cummins is the son of former Seanad leader Maurice.

In Cork North Central, Independent Ireland's Ken O'Flynn is hoping to follow in his father Noel's footsteps and win a Dáil seat. Noel was a Fianna Fáil TD from 1997 to 2011.

New EU Commissioner Michael McGrath's brother Séamus is expected to retain his Fianna Fáil seat in Cork South Central.

Elsewhere in Cork, the decision by Labour TD Seán Sherlock not to contest this election marks the first time there will be no Sherlock surname on the ballot paper since his father Joe first contested for the Workers' Party back in 1973.

Seán's cousin, Senator Marie Sherlock, is running for Labour in Dublin Central.

In Cork East, Mark Stanton, son of retiring TD David, is running for Fine Gael and Deirdre O'Brien, daughter of former TD Ned O'Keefe, is on the Fianna Fáil ticket.

In Kildare South, Senator Mark Wall is seeking to back the seat his father Jack held from 1997 to 2016.

This election also marks the first time there will be no Cowen candidate in Offaly. Ber Cowen started that Fianna Fáil dynasty in 1969, which was retained by his sons Brian and then Barry. Barry was elected to Europe in June.

Meanwhile, veteran TD Éamon Ó Cuív, grandson of Fianna Fáil founder Éamon de Valera, is retiring after 32 years in the Oireachtas.

Dynastic – or sibling – rivalry is also a feature of this election. Veteran Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness is up against his brother, independent councillor Eugene McGuinness, in Carlow-Kilkenny.

Other siblings running in this election are Aontú candidates. Party leader and outgoing Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín, and his sisters Emer and Mairead, are all running, albeit in different constituencies. Emer Tóibín is on the party ticket in Meath East and Mairéad Tóibín in Dún Laoghaire.