Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue (53) is a former Fianna Fáil councillor who contested his first local election in 2009 for the party, but failed to win a seat on the council.
He successfully ran again in 2014 for Fianna Fáil, but left the party in 2015 and changed to Independent.
He was unsuccessful as an Independent candidate in the 2016 general election and was re-elected to Limerick City and County Council in May 2019.
In 2020 the outspoken politician broke through to the national scene by winning his first Dail seat as an Independent.
Mr O’Donoghue co-founded the Ireland Independent party this year.
A self-employed building contractor, he lives with his wife Kay and four children in Granagh, Ballingarry, Co Limerick.