OUTGOING MEPS: Seán Ó Neachtain, Marian Harkin, Jim Higgins
Pat “The Cope” Gallagher
Fianna Fáil
The 61-year-old Donegal South West TD was a late addition to the Fianna Fáil ticket following the withdrawal of Seán Ó Neachtain. A member of Dáil Éireann, he previously served as an MEP for Connacht-Ulster. A graduate of NUI Galway and a former Minister of State. www.patthecope.com
Declan Ganley
Libertas
A founder of the pan-European Libertas movement, he came to prominence when campaigning against the Lisbon Treaty last year. He is 41-years-old, a resident of Tuam, Co Galway and is chairman of US-based telecommunications firm Rivada supplying a range of public organisations in the US including the military. www.libertas.eu
Marian Harkin
Independent
A graduate of UCD and a former teacher, she was elected to Dáil Éireann as an independent TD for Sligo-Leitrim in 2002. She successfully ran for Europe in 2004 and has focused on cancer care and volunteering during her term in Brussels. www.marianharkin.ie
Jim Higgins
Fine Gael
The NUI Galway graduate is a former school teacher who was first elected to Mayo County Council in 1979. The 64-year-old was nominated to Seanad Éireann in 1982 and served as a TD from 1987-2002, he was party chief whip and a Minister of State. He was elected as an MEP in 2004. www.jimhiggins.ie
Padraig MacLochlainn
Sinn Féin
Aged 35, he is a Donegal county councillor who served as Sinn Féin's national campaign director during the Lisbon Treaty campaign last year. He was elected to Donegal County Council in 2004, but was unsuccessful in his 2007 general election campaign.
www.sinnfeineu.com
Michael McNamara
Independent
A Clare-based farmer and practising barrister whose CV includes periods at RTÉ and the United Nations, he is a member of a political platform called reform.ie, which advocates the reform of local government. A former University College Cork and Catholic University of Louvain student.
www.reform.ie/mcnamara
Paschal Mooney
Fianna Fáil
A 61-year-old native of Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim, who had a long career in broadcasting and was a member of Seanad Éireann from 1987-2007. His father, Joseph, was a member of Seanad Éireann, while his mother, Eva sat on Leitrim County Council. He was appointed chairman of Fáilte Ireland North West in April of last year. www.fiannafail.ie
Susan O'Keeffe
Labour Party
Born in Dublin in 1960, she graduated from University College Cork. She is best known for the BBC World In Action programme on the Irish beef industry that led to the setting up of the beef tribunal. She lives in Co Sligo with her husband and three children.
www.susanokeeffe.ie
Fiachra O Luain
Independent
He is a first time candidate and is calling for the creation of a sustainable green economy. A 27-year-old resident of Carndonagh, Co Donegal, he completed a degree in language and cultural studies at the University of Limerick before moving on to study in Mexico. fiachraforeurope.ie
Joe O’Reilly
Fine Gael
Born into a Co Cavan farming family in 1955, and worked as a school teacher. He was a member of Cavan County Council from 1985-2007 and served as a Senator from 1989-1992. In the 2007 general election he failed to take a seat, but was returned to Seanad Éireann. joeoreilly.finegael.ie
OTHER CANDIDATES WHO DECLARED YESTERDAY
John Francis Higgins, Tourlestrane, Co Sligo - Independent
Thomas King, Oranmore, Co Galway - Independent
Noel McCullagh, Ballinasloe, Co Galway - Independent