Women running in local elections this year celebrated the highest number of female candidates in the race this morning. 

Over 50 women candidates across parties gathered at City Hall, Dublin city centre, at 10am with their posters. 

According to organisers these women represented the 655 women running in local elections across the country. 

Organiser Flor MacCarthy noted the Government parties, opposition, and independent candidates have gathered together to “reshape our democracy”. 

Some 32% of all candidates running in local elections are women.

This is a four-point increase from 2019, when 562 women ran in local elections. 

Women in local elections

According to Women for Election, which is yet to update the full figures of candidates, there are eight local electoral areas (LEAs) with no women running. 

These LEAs include Ballymahon in Co Longford, Kells in Co Meath and Ballinasloe in Co Galway. 

There are 16 LEAs with more women running than men, with the highest proportion found in Firhouse-Bohernabreena, south Dublin, where six candidates (75%) are women. 

Other LEAs with high female representation include Naas, Co Kildare (64%). Castleknock, Fingal (63%) and Ardee, Co Louth (60%). 

55 of the 655 women running in local elections at City Hall in Dublin celebrating gender equality, 19/05/2024. Image: Flor McCarthy.

The Social Democrats are the only party with more women running than men. 

Ms MacCarthy noted that Ireland is ranked 103rd in the world on the global ranking for women in politics. 

“This is despite having had revolutionary women 100 years ago in the formation of the State,” she said. 

“We’d ask voters to research the women running in your area – there are talented, capable, strong women running in every area." 

'The five Cs'

According to Ms MacCarthy, there are five reasons women are not as well-represented in politics, also known as the “five Cs”. 

“Culture - it’s a male culture,” she said. “Confidence - women may not have the confidence to run. 

“Candidate selection – parties may not have been choosing women or choosing them for unwinnable seats. 

“Care - childcare or caring responsibilities - [and] we have a new one: cyber. 

“We all hear the abuse directed towards women online [but] despite that, we now have 655 women saying, ‘I’m going forward’.” 

Local elections are taking place on June 7th, with registration closing tomorrow, May 20th.