Local elections Donegal 2009.

[UF]

Hey folks how do you all think that the local elections will go in Donegal "up here we're different" will go in 2009. Can Sinn Féin get a candidate elected in each of the local electoral areas in the county and all that. What do you think folks.

[MartinP]

The provisional party will find it difficult in Milford and Stranorlar electoral areas (as each has three seats only). But they will probably have no problem getting one in each of the other four electoral areas and I wouldn't rule out a second candidate running and getting elected in Inishowen. Fine Gael will be hoping to gain a seat in Inishowen too where they currently have one councillor to Fianna Fáil's four. I see Fianna Fáil possibly losing a councillor next year in that electoral area.

[colgan]

I can definetly see FF losing a seat in Inishowen, it will be interesting to see who gains the seat, carndonagh could be a key area with mcgonagle ageing and having not done a tap since the last time he got elected his seat would be the one FF will lose.


It would be great to see Labour or the greens taking a seat somewhere in the county, but not sure about the chances of that a happening.

[Gerrry]

The provisional party will find it difficult in Milford and Stranorlar electoral areas (as each has three seats only). But they will probably have no problem getting one in each of the other four electoral areas and I wouldn't rule out a second candidate running and getting elected in Inishowen.

They might have a problem getting a seat in the Donegal electoral area now that Thomas Pringle has left. Pringle is likely to retain that seat as an independent. He was elected originally in 1999 as an independent and in 2004 for SF. Anyone aware who they will run now in that area

[MartinP]

I can definetly see FF losing a seat in Inishowen, it will be interesting to see who gains the seat, carndonagh could be a key area with mcgonagle ageing and having not done a tap since the last time he got elected his seat would be the one FF will lose.


It would be great to see Labour or the greens taking a seat somewhere in the county, but not sure about the chances of that a happening.

It wouldn't be surprising if McGonigle didn't run again. And I think the Greens have set up a Cumann in the area recently. But with that said, I don't think they'd do well enough to take a seat if they ran a candidate. If the remaining sitting councillors held onto their seats FG could gain if they conducted themselves right. They previously had 2 councillors in Inishowen.

They might have a problem getting a seat in the Donegal electoral area now that Thomas Pringle has left. Pringle is likely to retain that seat as an independent. He was elected originally in 1999 as an independent and in 2004 for [P]SF. Anyone aware who they will run now in that area

True. They've had a councillor on Bundoran Town Council since 1999 and another who's had a seat on Ballyshannon Town Council since 2004, so those might be possible candidates.

[green]

They've had a councillor on Bundoran Town Council since 1999 and another who's had a seat on Ballyshannon Town Council since 2004, so those might be possible candidates.

Actually, Florence Doherty on Bundoran TC was originally elected as an Independent and left the Greens a year or two back. Unless she's re-joined under the radar (and I didn't see her at the weekend), I imagine she'll run for re-election as an Independent.

[QuizMaster]

The Greens have Neil Clarke on Letterkenny Town Council.

I can confirm there is an active Green Party organisation in Inishowen, which will be making a serious bid for both the county council and Buncrana UDC.
But the work will have to start now.
Hopefully you will start hearing about the Greens in Inishowen (if you take any interest in the peninsula) in the coming weeks.

Certainly FF will be hard put to hold 4/6 in this electoral area.
A 2nd seat for SF? I can see how they would be hopeful but I think the SF vote peaked around the time of the last LE.

[jayblue]

Any word on prospective candidate, I bet we can see some of those non civil servant workers in the various Donegal Minister offices running in the local next year. Or if Mary C gets a promotion will there be more pressure to deliver council seats next year.

[Gerrry]

They've had a councillor on Bundoran Town Council since 1999 and another who's had a seat on Ballyshannon Town Council since 2004, so those might be possible candidates.

Actually, Florence Doherty on Bundoran TC was originally elected as an Independent and left the Greens a year or two back. Unless she's re-joined under the radar (and I didn't see her at the weekend), I imagine she'll run for re-election as an Independent.

Martin was referring to potential SF candidates

[newbie12]

If you look at the 2006 Census stats then there's no way that Inis Eoghain will remain as is with 6 seats. If boundaries are retained then Inis Eoghain will gain 1 to 7 seats and Letterkenny 1 to 6 seats. Glenties and Donegal will reduce to 5. My betting is on part of Letterkenny that's in south West being transferred to Stranorlar leaving the constituencies as

Inis eoghain 7
Letterkenny 5
Milford 3
Glenties 5
Donegal 5
Stranorlar 4

I would predict Inis eoghain (FF4, FG2, SF1), Letterkenny (FF3, FG1, SF1), Stranorlar (FF2, FG1, SF1), Milford (FF2, FG1), Glenties (FF2, FG2, SF1) and Donegal (FF3, FG1, Ind1). This would leave FF unchanged at 16 - a gain in Milford cancelled out by loss in Glenties. FG unchanged at 8 - gain in inis Eoghain and loss in Donegal, SF at 4 (technically a gain in Stranorlar) and Indos at 1. Healthy FF majority. Realistically neither Greens or Labour have a hope in hell.