There\u2019s a group of about a dozen with him as they move into trendy Stoneybatter<\/a>, which would be a natural vote magnet for the SocDems. There\u2019s still grittiness there; Ennis says antisocial behaviour does occur.<\/p>\n As we pass along the rows of pretty cottages, there are one or two refuseniks who won\u2019t engage. After a flyer is pushed through a letterbox, a man opens the door, comes out and makes a big demonstration of ripping the brochure into pieces. <\/p>\n That said, Ennis gets a generally positive reception, although it\u2019s clear a lot are not up to the pitch of the campaign yet. Siobh\u00e1n Killeen is holding her dog Billy and speaks pleasantly to Ennis for five minutes at her doorstep. \u201cIt\u2019s a great area but there are some problems,\u201d she says. \u201cLitter is one, and some antisocial behaviour. We have scooters all the time.\u201d <\/p>\n [\u00a0Gerry Hutch officially listed as candidate for Dublin Central byelectionOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Ennis identifies the big issues as cost of living<\/a>, childcare<\/a> and housing affordability<\/a> in particular. \u201cA lot of people are not able to live in the community that they grew up in.\u201d<\/p>\n We meet S\u00e9amus at his doorway. He shows Ennis an anti-immigrant<\/a> pamphlet he got from \u201ctwo lads\u201d who called around earlier. He said despite giving out about foreigners, neither could speak Irish. <\/p>\n Ennis peruses the literature. \u201cThe message is rotten,\u201d he declares. \u201cThat\u2019s all I can tell you. That\u2019s why fighting hate is near the top of my list.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t quite decided which of the centre-left candidates I\u2019m going with yet,\u201d says S\u00e9amus. <\/p>\n Two kilometres away among the lovely redbrick houses of Botanic Road in Glasnevin<\/a>, Fianna F\u00e1il<\/a>\u2019s John Stephens is flying from house to house. Like Ennis, he\u2019s a new councillor, having only been elected in 2024, but he is a veteran, another ground-up candidate rooted in his community. With grown up children, Stephens, with a broad open face and easy manner, has worked as an administrator in the Mater hospital for more than 30 years and is a grafter. <\/p>\n His big issues: he wants the Help to Buy<\/a> scheme threshold to be increased from \u20ac500,000 to \u20ac700,000; 24\/7 hospital services, particularly in radiology and diagnostics, and has called for more GPs. Early intervention in crime prevention also forms part of his platform. <\/p>\n In Iona Villas, Imelda O\u2019Reilly highlights the lack of Mild General Learning Disability classes and SNA support. In a calm, matter-of-fact way (that\u2019s nonetheless formidable), she talks about her 15-year-old daughter \u2013 who has an intellectual disability but no behavioural issues \u2013 and the difficulties she has in getting appropriate education. \u201cShe\u2019ll never go to college, and that\u2019s fine, but there should be an education path for her,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n Stephens says he will talk to her again \u201cas it is a very private issue for yourself\u201d. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not private about it at all,\u201d replies O\u2019Reilly without pausing. \u201cShe\u2019s not getting the education she deserves, because it doesn\u2019t exist and it should exist, because she is one of many.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you put me into Government, you can change that,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are in Government,\u201d she replies. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m a councillor,\u201d he says. \u201cIf you put me in I\u2019ll be sitting at the table.\u201d<\/p>\n Around the corner, he bumps into Marguerite Norris and her two daughters, Ellie (12) and Ada (9) O\u2019Hora. She lives locally but is principal of the Dominican College on Griffith Avenue.<\/p>\n![\"Daniel](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MH7ALTOZMRELZN4RL33S45LTOU.jpg\")
Daniel Ennis of Social Democrats speaks with Siobhan Killeen and her dog called \u201cBilly\u201d in Stoneybatter,Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan for The Irish Times. <\/p>\n![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEOWLQYBDNGOXKTLUMZVK4A6UU.jpg\")
John Stephens of Fianna F\u00e1il talks with Marguerite Norris in Drumcondra, Dublin. Photograph: Tom Honan <\/p>\n
![\"John](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/YGVV3K3QHVEKVM3DG3AU5UPEJM.jpg\")
John Stephens canvassing in Drumcondra,Dublin.