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IN ONE OF Dublin Central’s leafiest areas, Glasnevin, two candidates from the civil war parties were pounding the pavements this week.
The geography of the constituency takes in East Wall, the city centre, Cabra and Grangegorman, with Phibsborough and Glasnevin classed as the more suburban areas.
Just three weeks out from the by-election, Fine Gael’s Ray McAdam and Fianna’s Fáil’s John Stephens were enjoying the sunshine, knocking on doors, where local issues like parking, bins, seagulls and high-rise developments were raised with them.
However, the level of engagement on national issues was notable.
A number of constituents directly challenged the two men on their parties’ record in government.
Issues such as the cost-of-living, special education classes and the government’s reaction to the fuel protest all featured.
When The Journal joined McAdam and his large team of canvassers on Thursday afternoon at Violet Hill, he seemed optimistic about his chances at taking a seat in the by-election.
He said he has been underestimated in the past, noting that in 2019, he faced down “the Green [Party] onslaught” and increased his vote. Asked if he felt he is being underestimated again in this by-election, McAdam replied mid-sprint while running to another house:
“I’m in it to win it.”
His campaign didn’t get off to the best start, with McAdam, along with Dublin City Council, coming in for criticism for the cost of hotel stays and business class flights for official trips last month.
Details of the cost of some of the trips, which were released under Freedom of Information, were published in the Sunday Independent last weekend.
McAdam flew business class to California with the cost of the flight coming in at €5,900.
Asked about the matter and whether it has damaged his campaign, he defended his position, stating that the trips were about job opportunities and getting companies to invest in Dublin.
Asked if he understood the pushback over the business class flights, McAdam responded:
Look, I would have been happy to sit on any seat on the plane.
McAdam pointed out that other lord mayors before him have made trips to the likes of the US to “continue to build on that relationship”.
“That’s what I’ve tried to do. So as I said, I would have been happy to sit on any seat on that plane. I had a job to do, an integral part is fighting for investment in Dublin,” he said.
Aside from answering questions about controversies, there were robust questions for McAdam on the doorsteps of the picturesque housing estate.
One elderly gentleman said there was “nothing for pensioners” in the last budget, highlighting worries he had about the local property tax.
Others had concerns about the plans for a major residential development, Royal Oak apartments, on the Finglas Road.
One passerby stopped the lord mayor to voice her objection of the Strategic Housing Development (SHD) process, which was introduced in 2017 with the aim of speeding up planning decisions.
Under the process, large developments comprising more than 100 homes or over 200 units of student accommodation could bypass local planning authorities and go straight to the planning commission for a decision.
The application process, which officially ended in 2022, was subject to a significant number of judicial reviews in the courts that led to delays rather than faster delivery.
The woman, who said she was an engineer, called it a “very bad piece of legislation”, and called out developments in the area which she said were designed with no facilities for residents.
“They’re going to be all on top of each other,” she said.
The constituent said that the Royal Oak apartment development was subject to objections, not because people don’t want housing built there, but because of the design.
The development has been granted planning permission.
She accused the government of capitulating to the developers, stating “all the developers tell you they won’t build unless you reduce the planning standards, and you just capitulate to that. And it has real consequences for people living there”.
The engineer went on to tell McAdam that she disagreed with developments with no parking, stating that while she cycles to work, she disagrees with the idea of granting planning permission for apartments with the view that everybody living there is going to cycle.
“It’s just ridiculous,” she told McAdam.
He responded by saying that under the government’s Climate Action Plan there is an aim to reduce the number of vehicles in the city.
“Do you drive a car?” she asked.
“I do,” replied McAdam.
“Well, there you go. Most people need a car to get around. I drive my car at the minimum possible. As I said, I cycle to work, but it’s not realistic, what you have instead is people parking their cars everywhere.”
Defending the government position, McAdam said a suite of policies is being pursued to deal with the housing crisis.
“It’s making sure that where there are significant sites that we have a mix for public housing, affordable purchase, cost-rental, an opportunity for private, where we are making sure there is infrastructure going in as well,” said McAdam, noting figures released this week by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing that compared to 2025, there has been a 33% increase in the number of housing completions across the country.
Before the heated exchange concluded between the constituent and McAdam, she also criticised the approach to drug-taking in the capital, stating: “There’s a smell of weed all over the city.”
McAdam moved on, eager to get a few more doors knocked on.
By-and-large, he was met warmly by many who said they remembered the constituency’s former TD Paschal Donohoe, whose vacated seat the lord mayor wants to take.
Donohoe, who left Irish politics to take up a job in the World Bank, had McAdam, who has sat on the council for close to 17 years, as the ‘man on the ground’ in his constituency feeding back local concerns to the then finance minister.
However, one young man who opened his door had criticisms for Fine Gael party leader Simon Harris.
This constituent said he was in the process of buying solar panels for his house but was irked that the Tánaiste made vague comments in a speech last weekend indicating that additional grants and supports could be coming down the line.
“Look he did that speech, and this is the other problem with Simon Harris, he’s the minister for press releases. He puts out a press release and doesn’t take in the policy implications. Like I’m getting solar panels, do I bother putting them up now if I am going to get an incentive in six months time? I don’t know. Do you know what I mean? Like, I just think that’s not how you do policy. It’s not how you do good governance.”
“Message received loud and clear,” McAdam said before bidding the man goodbye.
At this point of the canvas, McAdam had been joined by Fine Gael TD James Geoghegan and Senator Linda Nelson.
Concerns were also raised about the government’s response to the fuel protesters and how it appeared that those “who shouted the loudest” got rewarded. McAdam explained that the government was always going to act to the rising fuel prices, stating that if not done so, the cost of food would be impacted.
Knocking at the door of another this very issue of the rising cost of food was raised. This woman said the supports to date were not good enough.
McAdam said the government had to “reserve some firepower” for the winter months ahead given the uncertainty facing the world right now.
She also questioned him on the enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill.
McAdam said this was a commitment in the programme for government, and if elected, he would be “very eager” to see that legislation passed.
At this point a driver passed by, beeped, and shouted: “F*cking traitors”.
It didn’t appear to faze McAdam who sprinted over to the next street.
“Any chance of keeping the Shinners out?” one man tending to his garden said to McAdam.
Moving at pace, with Geoghegan by his side, the Dublin Bay South TD pointed to a newly paved path.
“Look at this level of Fine Gael delivery,” he said with a smile. “You could eat your dinner off it,” said McAdam, joking.
When The Journal joined Stephens on the beat near Fairfield Road in Glasnevin on Wednesday evening, it initially looked like a stand-off was happening.
McAdam and his posse were on the same street, just a stone’s throw away from the Fianna Fáil team. Stephens joked that no matter how well you try and plan your route, bumping into your contenders can often happen.
Moving onto Cliftonville Road, like McAdam, there was no time to waste. Moving from house-to-house, he made his pitch.
He stated he was a new councillor, having only been elected in 2024, but told constituents he was a man from the area, having only grown up across the road.
The Botanic Gardens was his playground as a child, he said, stating that he is rooted in his community.
Working as an administrator in the Mater hospital for more than 30 years, he said he knows the frustrations the public have with the health system.
He wants to see 24/7 hospital services, particularly in radiology and diagnostics, stating that the wait lists are too long.
Dealing with anti-social behaviour, getting a handle on crime, the importance of education, are also key issues him, he told The Journal.
When it comes to housing, increasing the Help to Buy scheme threshold from €500,000 to €700,000, is also something he will seek if elected.
Just like McAdam, he also faced serious questions on the doorsteps of his constituents.
In Iona Villas, Imelda O’Reilly, a teacher, highlighted the lack of special needs classes and SNA support. She knew what she was talking about and listed off her concerns.
She spoke to Stephens about her 15-year-old daughter – who has an intellectual disability but no behavioural issues – and the difficulties she has faced in getting appropriate education.
“There should be an education path for her,” she said.
Stephens told O’Reilly that he would take her number and come to talk to her again, “as it is a very private issue for yourself”.
“I’m not private about it at all,” O’Reilly responded, stating there “is nothing shameful about it”.
“She’s not getting the education she deserves, because it doesn’t exist and it should exist, because she is one of many.”
“If you put me into Government, you can change that,” said Stephens.
“You are in government,” she replied, stating that she has had to fight for everything for her child.
Stephens explained that he is a mere councillor, but he wants a seat at the decision-making table so he can deal with issues like this.
“Fianna Fáil have been in power for a very long time” she said.
O’Reilly also criticised the government for spending money on hot school meals and the free books scheme stating that there were much more important things for money to be spent on in education.
Moving on to the next street, Stephens met with Marguerite Norris and her two daughters, Ellie (12) and Ada (9).
Norris is the principal of the Dominican College on Griffith Avenue and spoke to Stephens about her concerns about the traffic around the school and new cycle lane. She has concerns about the students who use bikes to get to school, she said.
Stephens said he could get the council to use video cameras to monitor traffic, with Norris asking him to do so before the students finish up for the summer.
While running around the houses, the name of one former Taoiseach and stronghold in the constituency came up a few times.
Stephens said Bertie Ahern has been helping him out with his campaign. One constituent, who campaigned for the former Fianna Fáil leader said: “Bertie told me to look after you and I will.”
As he moved down the street, Stephens said he learned one very important rule while out canvassing over the years.
“Always close the gate,” he said, explaining people can get very annoyed if you leave their gate ajar, or worse, if you let their dog out.
The Fianna Fáil presidential candidate found out all too well the criticism that not closing a gate behind you can bring.
For Jim Gavin, the campaign did not end well. Stephens is hoping for a better result.
However, the canvas in Glasnevin this week shows that the government party candidates may find this a by-election a steep hill to climb.
There are 12 other candidates running in the Dublin Central constituency: Janice Boylan (Sinn Féin); Tony Corrigan (Independent); Daniel Ennis (Social Democrats); Colm Joseph Flood (Independent); Mannix Flynn (Independent); Janet Horner (Green Party); Gerard Hutch (Independent); Ruth O’Dea (The Labour Party); Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (People Before Profit); John O’Leary (Independent); Ian Noel Smyth (Aontú) and Malachy Steenson (Independent)
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