Donegal Local Elections

[MartinP]

May as well start one for Donegal.

29 seats on Donegal County Council divided into 5 electoral areas:

Inishowen EA - 7 seats
Letterkenny/Milford EA - 7 seats
Stranorlar EA - 5 seats
Donegal EA - 5 seats
Glenties EA - 5 seats

4 Town Councils with 9 seats each:

Letterkenny Town Council
Buncrana Town Council
Ballyshannon Town Council
Bundoran Town Council

[MartinP]

Add candidates and comments/predictions if you wish.

Candidates for Inishowen EA:

Nicholas Crossan - Ind
Sheenagh McMahon - Green
Cllr. Pádraig Mac Lochlainn - PSF
Sean Ruddy - PSF
Cllr. Bernard McGuinness - FG
Keith Roulston - FG
"Black" Mickey Doherty - FG
John Ryan - FG
Cllr. Rena Donaghey - FF
Cllr. Marian McDonald - FF
Charlie McConalogue - FF
Paul Canning - FF
Martin Farren - Lab
Bartholemew Connell - Ind

Candidates for Buncrana Town Council:

Mary Doherty - CSP
Sheenagh McMahon - Green
Cllr. Pádraig MacLochlainn - PSF
Cllr. Darren Lalor - PSF
Ciaran McGuinness - PSF
Cllr. Peter McLaughlin - FG
Cllr. Paul Bradley - FG
Lee Tedstone - FG
Michelle Bradley - FG
Cllr. Nicholas Crossan - Ind
Cllr. Michael Grant - Ind
Cllr. Joe Doherty - FF
Mairead Diggin - FF
James Gill - FF


Candidates for Letterkenny/Milford EA:

Siobhan McLaughlin - Lab
Mick Quinn - PSF
Donal Cullen - Ind
Cllr. Noel McBride - FG
Joanne Sweeney Burke - FG
John Gibbons - FG
Paddy Gildea - FG
Liam Blaney - FF
Ciaran Brogan - FF
Frank Gallagher - Green
John Gibbons - FG
Jimmy Harte - Ind
Dessie Larkin - FF
Michael McBride - FF
Ian McGarvey - Ind

Candidates for Letterkenny Town Council:

Michael Abiola-Phillips - FG
P.J. Blake - Ind
Cllr. Ciaran Brogan - FF
Tom Crossan - Ind
Tadhg Culbert - FF
Peter Cutliffe - FF
Philip Doherty - FF
Cllr. Victor Fisher - FF
Cllr. Frank Gallagher - Green
Paddy Gildea - FG
Cllr. Jimmy Harte - Ind
Jimmy Kavanagh - FG
Cllr. Dessie Larkin - FF
Frank Larkin - FG
Robert Brix Lloyd - Ind
Cllr. Jim Lynch - Ind
Siobhan McLaughlin - Lab
Cllr. Gerry McMonagle - PSF
Josie Murray - FG
Stella Oladapo - FF
Ian McGarvey - Ind


Candidates for Stranorlar EA:

Peter Carlin - FF
Cllr. Gerry Crawford - FF
Alan Dooher - Ind
John Gallagher - Ind
Martin Harley - FG
Cllr. Cora Harvey - PSF
Cllr. Patrick Mc Gowan - FF
Frank McBrearty Jnr. - Lab
Stephen McNamee - FG
Cllr. Gareth Reid - FG


Candidates for Glenties EA:

Alcorn, David - Fianna Fáil
Bonner, Enda - Fianna Fáil
Brennan, Francis - Independent
Doherty, Pádraig - Independent
Gallagher, Marie Therese - Provisional Sinn Féin
Kelly, Joe - Fianna Fáil
Kelly, John - The Labour Party
O'Domhnaill, Seamus - Independent
Rodgers, Seamus - The Labour Party
Slowey, Terence - Fine Gael
Sweeney, Mairead - Fine Gael
Terry, Martin - Fine Gael
Ó Féarraigh, John Sheamais - Provisional Sinn Féin


Candidates for Donegal EA:

Boyle, John - Fine Gael
Byrne, Brendan - Fianna Fáil
Carbin, Shay - The Labour Party
Conaghan, Tom - Independent
Kennedy, Jonathan - Fianna Fáil
McCafferty, Patricia - Independent
McEniff, Sean - Fianna Fáil
McGettigan, Ernan - Independent
McGinty, Eamon - Independent
McLaughlin, Jim - Provisional Sinn Féin
McShane, Barry - Fine Gael
O'Neill, Barry - Fine Gael
Pringle, Thomas - Independent
Quinn, Tommy - Independent

Candidates for Ballyshannon Town Council:

Branley, Rosaleen - Provisional Sinn Féin
Doherty, Gerry - Independent
Dolan, Eugene - Fine Gael
Doyle, Eunan - Fianna Fáil
Gallagher, Brendan - Fianna Fáil
Grimes, Billy - Fianna Fáil
Kane, Seán Óg - Fianna Fáil
McGrath, Mick - Fianna Fáil
Meehan, John - Fine Gael
Murray, Val - Fine Gael
Murtagh, Chris - Fine Gael
O'Malley, Pat - Independent
Patton, Michael - Independent
Travers, Brendan - Fine Gael
Travers, Phonsie - Fine Gael

Candidates for Bundoran Town Council:

Barrett, Eamon - Fine Gael
Barry, Pat - Republican Sinn Féin (On ballot as Independent/Non-Party)
Connolly, Denise - Fine Gael
Doherty, Diarmaid - Fianna Fáil
Doherty, Florence - Independent
Kelly, Paul - Fianna Fáil
McCafferty, Patricia - Independent
McEniff, Sean - Fianna Fáil
McGlynn, Philip - Fianna Fáil
McIntyre, Elizabeth - Fianna Fáil
McMahon, Michael - Provisional Sinn Féin
Mulhern, Billy - Fianna Fáil
O'Kelly, Killian - Fine Gael
Rafferty, Arthur - Provisional Sinn Féin

[Ulster-Lad]

I notice that there a lack of FF candidates listed. I know that the FF councillors in Stranorlar are not running again and FF are having difficulties finding someone to stand there.

[factual]

Expecting good news for Sinn Féin for this county - after all Sinn Féin did VERY well in this county in 2007.

[SFInbhear]

Sinn Fein are well positioned in Donegal to make gains. Regardless of what some might say Sinn Fein have a reputation in Donegal of delivering locally. Also woth the selection of good young candidates in areas, they are in a good position to pick up votes from those affected by recent government policies and young voters. Also in EAs where independants have sprung (Donegal EA, Glenties EA) which obviously appear to be nothing other than Fianna Fail in disguise, and the fact the electorate has seen through this; has also helped boost Sinn Fein's chances.
These Independants will split Fianna Fail's vote as FF voters will vote for these candidates instead of changing party; a classic Fianna Fail stunt to hold their vote in the event of any bye-election or General Election.

[FamilyGuy]

Sinn Fein are well positioned in Donegal to make gains. Regardless of what some might say Sinn Fein have a reputation in Donegal of delivering locally. Also woth the selection of good young candidates in areas, they are in a good position to pick up votes from those affected by recent government policies and young voters. Also in EAs where independants have sprung (Donegal EA, Glenties EA) which obviously appear to be nothing other than Fianna Fail in disguise, and the fact the electorate has seen through this; has also helped boost Sinn Fein's chances.
These Independants will split Fianna Fail's vote as FF voters will vote for these candidates instead of changing party; a classic Fianna Fail stunt to hold their vote in the event of any bye-election or General Election.

They will lose a seat in the Donegal electoral area

[SFInbhear]

Sinn Fein dont have a seat in Donegal EA as Pringle is Independant. But they have a good candidate with an exellent pedigree and reputation in community development in Donegal Town and further afield. This could be a factor as it is possible that 3/4s will come into play to decide who takes a seat(s) in Donegal Town. There are six candidates based in this area so it is interesting to see how the transfers will effect matters. Also with the absence of a Fianna Fail candidate in the Inver parish it will be interesting to see who picks up disgruntled votes here. Although Kennedy will pick up the loyal voters, Conaghan should do well giving his Fianna Fail history and his election team, most of whom have a long history with FF. Cant see him doing well outside of Donegal Town and its surrounding areas. Pringle also has a presence here but with his changes in the past few years its hard to call how he will do outright. Early Prediction: McEniff, O'Neill and Boyle. Two remaining seats from McShane, Byrne, McLaughling, Conaghan, Kennedy and Pringle.

[MartinP]

Surely Pringle will get in with ease? Did he not do very well last time around as an independent? As it has gone from 6 seats to 5 I don't think PSF will take a seat. However, they will take a seat in Glenties I'd imagine (which is a 5 seater too). As well as one seat in Letterkenny/Milford and at least one seat in Inishowen. What do you reckon about Stranorlar?

[SFInbhear]

Stranorler is another area where Sinn Fein will look to take a seat. With Fianna Fail struggling throughout Donegal it would be dissapointing not to take a seat. The big story here will be the performance of McBrearty for Labour. With Finn Valley being constantly overlooked by Fianna Fail in terms of the Dail and Seanad, one wonder could this, amongst many other factors, harm FFs vote.

Pringle walked in in the Donegal EA last time around but outside his base around Kilybegs and its surrounding areas, he was completely reliant on the Sinn Fein electoral machine in places like Bundoran and Ballyshannon etc where he got a very good vote. I expect Pringle to be in the shake up and if anyone is to benefit from the overcrowding of candidates in Donegal Town, it would be him. As I said before, it is impossible to guess the five who will get in.

[FamilyGuy]

Surely Pringle will get in with ease? Did he not do very well last time around as an independent? As it has gone from 6 seats to 5 I don't think PSF will take a seat. However, they will take a seat in Glenties I'd imagine (which is a 5 seater too). As well as one seat in Letterkenny/Milford and at least one seat in Inishowen. What do you reckon about Stranorlar?

Pringle will easily retake that seat