The Monk Strikes Back

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is back, confirming he’ll run in the Dublin Central by-election after narrowly missing out on a Dáil seat in 2024. His candidacy blurs the line between notoriety and politics, raising fresh questions about protest votes, public frustration, and what kind of TD voters are willing to elect. With nominations closing this Friday and the race tightening, how serious a contender is he — and who stands in his way? Ciara Doherty is joined by Louise Burne of the Irish Examiner and Craig Hughes of the Irish Daily Mail to assess the impact of Hutch’s return the political scene.