Kildare South - Athy Area

[coldwater]

Was a 3 seater 2 FF and 1 FG
Now a 4 seater Kilcullen, Ballymore Eustace and Nurney added into the area.
FF should hold their 2 seats but probably with a reduction in their share of the vote
The FG incumbent R Hendy is stepping down, but Richard Daly, a General Election Candidate from Athy must be favourite to retain seat for FG
That leaves 4th seat. Labour should get it, but they had internal problems last time out and are rumoured to have more of the same this time. Breslin or Lawler from Athy or F Browne (Current Couny Councillor in the Kildare Area) should be their candidate.
SF have a seat on Athy Town Council but it is very doubtful if he will run for the County Council.
The Green have no apparent candidate, but will surely find somebody.
There will be a few independents.
A lot of the probable runners are based in or around Athy so this may leave the way open for somebody in the Kilcullen / Ballymore Eustace area.
My prediction
2 FF 1FG, last seat: I will wait until the Greens and Labour pick their people.

[aodh_rua]

FG have also selected incumbent councillor Billy Hillis who has a strong personal vote in the Ballymore area which should follow him from Naas into the new district. He is very popular, and has increased his vote at every election since first getting on to the council in 1985.

The third FG candidate, Martin Heydon is also well-placed to deliver a big vote. He's the secretary of the St. Laurence's Club and his cousin Tadhg Fenin will be involved in the campaign. Expect a big showing from him.

As for FF and Labour (don't expect the Greens or SF to amount to much if they show at all), there could be pressure on their second seat. Labour should profit from a popular local TD, an active town councillor in Athy and the transfer of Cllr. Francis Browne's home area of Nurney. They should be able to deliver a seat, which makes things very interesting.

[coldwater]

I didnt realise FG had picked their people. If they are running 3 then FF will probably do the same. Labour may only go with one. Their most likely runner is Aoife Breslin, she topped poll in last Urban election in Athy and works in Jack Walls office. They might pick a running mate located a bit north of Athy

[brown trout]

I understand that labour have not selected there candidates yet and that both athy town councillors aoife breslin and john lawler are looking for the nomination. also with his hat in the ring is jack walls son, mark. it looks like he might get the nomination as it is speculated that jack might step down come the next general election and labour will need someone to replace him. if this is the case and wall gets on the ticket, many beleive john lawler will leave the labour party and run as an independent. it will not be the first time he did this as he left FF after the 99 election. it is also rumoured that both clifford t reid and john dardis are planning on running as independents. if there is any truth in this, it will surely lead to an interesting race. both dardis and reid still hold very high profiles in the area and with the electoral area now a four seater the game shall be wide open.

[coldwater]

Dardis? maybe, but I would doubt if Cliff Reid will run. I had not heard that Mark Wall is in the running, but Labour would hardly pick him. I knew he was running for Athy Town Council. He has never stood for election before, and it would be a huge gamble. If he is chosen I think you would see more than John Lawlor leave the party. There could be widespread defections. Interesting times ahead is right

[john scott]

I understand that labour have not selected there candidates yet and that both athy town councillors aoife breslin and john lawler are looking for the nomination. also with his hat in the ring is jack walls son, mark. it looks like he might get the nomination as it is speculated that jack might step down come the next general election and labour will need someone to replace him. if this is the case and wall gets on the ticket, many beleive john lawler will leave the labour party and run as an independent. it will not be the first time he did this as he left FF after the 99 election. it is also rumoured that both clifford t reid and john dardis are planning on running as independents. if there is any truth in this, it will surely lead to an interesting race. both dardis and reid still hold very high profiles in the area and with the electoral area now a four seater the game shall be wide open.

I thought Clifford T Reid was going to run for Labour in the Athy Town Council.

[coldwater]

It seems that Cliff is taking a break from Local politics, I heard that he has rejoined the Labour party recently but did not seek a nomination for either Urban or Co.Co.

[brown trout]

I understand that mark wall got the labour party nomination last week.

[goldleader]

Long live the great soldiers of destiny

[aodh_rua]

I understand that mark wall got the labour party nomination last week.

He did indeed, defeating incumbent Cllr. Francis Browne. They selected their TC ticket as well. I can't find the list of candidates online though. Aoife Breslin was definitely selected as was John Lawler. They did select a third but I can't remember who it was.