Meet the baby-faced candidates in Ireland’s local elections, including a minister’s son and the first person of African descent to run in Kerry

Youth not proving to be a barrier at the doors as the usual issues dominate voters’ concerns

Melissa Byrne was drawn to Aontú after party leader Peadar Toibín left Sinn Féin

Maeve McTaggart

​Thousands of candidates are on the ballot in constituencies across the country ahead of next month’s local elections, with some entering the fray at much younger ages than is the norm.

The Irish Independent spoke with the youngest candidate from each political party sitting in the Dáil about what has brought them to politics, what issues are dominating their campaigns and how voters react to their youth.