O'Brien takes de Burca seat on Wicklow Council

[David Cochrane]

Members of the Green Party in Bray have nominated Ciaran O'Brien to take over Deirdre de Burca's seat on Wicklow County Council, following her appointment to Seanad Éireann. O'Brien, a former member of Bray Town Council was the winner of a selection contest that was held in Kilmacanogue on Friday (24 August). Steve Matthews was appointed to the seat vacated by Senator de Burca on Bray Town Council.

Cllr O'Brien said: "I am very happy to accept the nomination for Senator de Burca's council seat. As the Green Party's new representative on Wicklow County Council I will be focusing on key Green issues including sustainable development, energy efficiency in housing, town centre rejuvenation and disabilities."

[Bray Bugle]

Sooo clever of Deirdre de Burca to ensure that the semi-anonymous Ciaran O'Brien is to replace her on Wicklow County Council. This ensures that the potential rival Cllr Caroline Burrell will be kept in the background. No secret in Bray that Cllr Burrell is the natural successor to the gracious MEP Nuala Ahern. Had Ms Burrell been a candidate at the recent general election she would have been a shoo-in. But that wouldn't suit the shrill Deirde, would it?

[civilservant]

Sooo clever of Deirdre de Burca to ensure that the semi-anonymous Ciaran O'Brien is to replace her on Wicklow County Council. This ensures that the potential rival Cllr Caroline Burrell will be kept in the background. No secret in Bray that Cllr Burrell is the natural successor to the gracious MEP Nuala Ahern. Had Ms Burrell been a candidate at the recent general election she would have been a shoo-in. But that wouldn't suit the shrill Deirde, would it?

Sour grapes methinks. How exactly did de Burca ensure the result of a democratic vote? Shame she couldn't use her powers to shoo herself in on May 24th

[twowheelsgood]

Caroline Burrell is a good town councillor but the idea that she would have polled better then DeBurca is absurd, the latter is far more articulate and bright. Its a shame though that the number of County and City Councillors in the party who are women has decreased by two [Mary Whites co-optee is a dude].

Anyone know anything about this Steve Matthews person? He has a DIT e-mail address on the GP website. Have the YGs gotten their first elected rep?

[adamirer]

Few things here, first it's not a shame the co-optees are dudes. If the membership felt they were the best choices then so be it. While I understand its 'nice to have', I really hate when people bring gender into it. It certainly shouldn't be an influencing factor.

Theres no way Burrell or any green in wicklow would have polled as well as de Burca, basically because de Burca (see phoenix pointed out) has been culturing a national profile over a number of years. Most people have heard of her. (And elections have nothing to do with being 'articulate and bright' - sadly)

Alas I would contend that most peoples perception of her isn't that favourable. That she never had as good a chance to get elected as she just had, with Fox gone and a high profile and 'green issues' and was still so far off places her, for me, in the 'had potential but won't make it now'.

Who knows what the next five years will bring, but i don't think the Seanad is a good move for her. She may well go for the Euro's (and fail) with a view to boosting her profile yet again for the 2012 Gen Election, but methinks she may end up alienating more people than she wins over.

Finally, why assume de Burca 'ensured' O'Brien? We're talking a Co Co seat and with her profile there was no way in hell either O'Brien or Burrell were going to dislodge her over the next 5 years as the Countys leading green candidate. And come on, greens have how many members nationwide, 800-1000? So they may have maybe 30 in Wicklow? All Burrell or O'Brien needed to do was to get their family & mates in the county to register as members and you've enough to win. It what FF cumanns do all the time.

DIT address could easily be staff.

[LowIQ]

The Greens have hit their high water mark. Tara, Shannon, etc., will continue to fester and drag them down.

[Fnarr-Fnarr]

The Greens have hit their high water mark. Tara, Shannon, etc., will continue to fester and drag them down.

Tell yourself that, if it helps you to sleep better.

[QuizMaster]

The Greens have hit their high water mark. Tara, Shannon, etc., will continue to fester and drag them down.

Want to make a little long bet?
Where exactly are the "fundi" green voters going to go, even if things stay as they are? But in fact I'd say things will get better. The Greens have 5 years to pull a few strokes and I'd say they'll do it. So far nothing, it has to be said, but it's early days.

I can't see any sort of new "greener than green" party getting anywhere.

[Fnarr-Fnarr]

The Greens have hit their high water mark. Tara, Shannon, etc., will continue to fester and drag them down.

Want to make a little long bet?
Where exactly are the "fundi" green voters going to go, even if things stay as they are? But in fact I'd say things will get better. The Greens have 5 years to pull a few strokes and I'd say they'll do it. So far nothing, it has to be said, but it's early days.

I can't see any sort of new "greener than green" party getting anywhere.

I think its unfair to say nothing has been done yet. We have had Eamon Ryan increasing the tax on future fossil fuel finds and John Gormley is finally doing what Ministers of the Environment are suppose to do and highlighting global warming. Nothing earth-shattering granted, but all moves in a positive direction.

As for strokes - why do we have to call them strokes. We have 5 years to put our policies into action through government. Nothing stokish about that.

[Fnarr-Fnarr]

Well done to Cllr O'Brien by the way.