Laois local elections 2009

[Michael Moloney MCC(I)]

Ok Michael, but no matter what, people will perceive you to have that connection.It will be an advantage to anyone on the campaign trail to have no connection to FF in June.

Hence, Jerry Lodges Literature out around Christmas looks like he could be an independent. Barely anything alluding to his lifelong and uninterupted membership of FF.

In relation to Mountmellick, you know as well as anyone all polls have a certain political agenda. And you would have to admit this election campaign will look very different than anything seen in Laois before or for a long time anyway.
You and some other members of LCC have a tough batlle to retain your seats,probably the toughest of your political careers.

Agree with all you say above T-S, I know and accept the opinion poll done by FG means nothing but I prefer to be in the top four than at the bottom. However you must bear in mind that FF and FG have done nothing over the last five years to develop their parties at grassroots level and I believe as you that this election both county and nationwide will be quite different to anything seen since the 40's.

With 15 of the existing councillors going to be returned with no problem and with 4 not standing again, the rest of us including myself have a fight on our hands. But making my own case, I have been consistant on all aspects of policy developemnt in my five years in here, I have made the point forceable from day one on reckless rezoning, driving developers agendas contrary to what is good for local economies etc.

While some, like to put it about (for their own agenda - no problem with that) that I am not an active councillor, I am more than prepared to stand before the electorate and I believe that I will get an endorsement to continue in my role as an Independent councillor that is issue driven.




Michael Moloney MCC (Indep) Laois CC

[Bystander]

I agree that there is mounting dissatisfaction with FF around the country but I think that many FF'ers, while they may not vote for FF this time, will not vote for any opposition party at all. Many will not vote at all rather than vote against their beloved FF.
With regard to those who do vote: it is hard to see many supporting FG, especially the older generation FF, as it would go against the grain.
I think the unknown factor is whether the young vote come out, especially those who are unemployed and whose mortgages are at risk. An anti-establishment vote could benefit Sinn Fein and they should not be underestimated. After all if SF are good enough to share power in NI why not down here?

[Anthony ml]

Ok Michael, but no matter what, people will perceive you to have that connection.It will be an advantage to anyone on the campaign trail to have no connection to FF in June.

Hence, Jerry Lodges Literature out around Christmas looks like he could be an independent. Barely anything alluding to his lifelong and uninterupted membership of FF.

In relation to Mountmellick, you know as well as anyone all polls have a certain political agenda. And you would have to admit this election campaign will look very different than anything seen in Laois before or for a long time anyway.
You and some other members of LCC have a tough batlle to retain your seats,probably the toughest of your political careers.

Transiberian you have it 90% right. There are fundemental differances betweem Cllr. Moloney and Cllr. Lodge.

Love him or hate him Cllr. Moloney is a consistant performer and not afraid to speak his mind on the dirty issues, corruption etc.
I am of the opinion he will keep his Mountmellick seat.

Cllr Lodge on the other hand is one of the great urban myths of Laois, rarely seen post election. He coatails other peoples work.
Invisable and usually goes hell for leather for the 12-13 months pre election but goes back under his rock once elected.

And yes Transiberian I did notice the abscence of the FF logo from his christmas newsletter.

On the back of the leaflet it said[SIZE="1"][COLOR="DarkOrange"Fianna Fail The Republican Party[COLOR="DarkOliveGreen"][/COLOR][/COLOR][FONT="Arial Narrow"][/FONT][/SIZE]

[Michael Moloney MCC(I)]

Murder or no murder Lodge and Fitzgerald are certs to hold on to their FF seats in Portlaoise , as both are very good MCC s
~The destination of the new seat though is up for grabs. FG don't seem to have their house in order , quite frankly they are a waste of space.and probably wont have the punch to take this extra seat.

Feet first, this is not an accurate or fair assessment of the situation with FF and FG in Portlaoise.

Firstly, I think to make this site worth viewing now or sometime in the future, I believe the posts should reflect as accurate as is possible what the situation is on the ground so that this maybe a useful place to devlop knowledge of whats happening or not happening at grassroots here in Laois.

Of the two parties going into the local elections in Portlaoise in June FG are much stronger than FF are and if we fast forward to the count next June, I see FG taking three seats in and do not be suprised that at some stage during the evening of the count I can see FG having three elected, FF having only one elected, Brian Stanley holding his seat comfortably and FF having to fight to the end to retain its second seat.



Michael Moloney MCC (Indep) Laois CC

Remember in the 2004 locals FF would have ended up with only one seat if Catherine Fitzgeralds vote was 40 less than she got and if Kathleen O' Brien vote been higher by 40 votes. In essence if FF does get the second seat, it is only because the area is now a seven seater, had it remained a six seater, it would be done to one seat

[Trans-Siberian]

Feet first, this is not an accurate or fair assessment of the situation with FF and FG in Portlaoise.

Firstly, I think to make this site worth viewing now or sometime in the future, I believe the posts should reflect as accurate as is possible what the situation is on the ground so that this maybe a useful place to devlop knowledge of whats happening or not happening at grassroots here in Laois.

Of the two parties going into the local elections in Portlaoise in June FG are much stronger than FF are and if we fast forward to the count next June, I see FG taking three seats in and do not be suprised that at some stage during the evening of the count I can see FG having three elected, FF having only one elected, Brian Stanley holding his seat comfortably and FF having to fight to the end to retain its second seat.



Michael Moloney MCC (Indep) Laois CC

Remember in the 2004 locals FF would have ended up with only one seat if Catherine Fitzgeralds vote was 40 less than she got and if Kathleen O' Brien vote been higher by 40 votes. In essence if FF does get the second seat, it is only because the area is now a seven seater, had it remained a six seater, it would be done to one seat

Two points on this Michael. FG have a good chance of taking 3 seats out of the 7. OBrien in my opinion will poll far higher than Keegan. Stanley will keep his seat. What about Tom jacob, he is likely to make it back. If the Fitzgerald vote is split because of Phelan, Lodge could be the first FF over the line, and that 7th seat is really up for grabs. what if SF run a second candiate for the county. With the right person and taking a fair share of tranfers it could make thing interesting.
So the possibility of 1 FF person on the council in the portlaoise area remains a strong possibility, but this is in the hands of other parties. No matter what way you look at it Ff are a shadow of their former selves in portlaoise.

[Trans-Siberian]

[QUOTE=Michael Moloney MCC(I);1389756]Feet first, this is not an accurate or fair assessment of the situation with FF and FG in Portlaoise.


Of the two parties going into the local elections in Portlaoise in June FG are much stronger than FF are and if we fast forward to the count next June,

Surely you mean 5 parties will contest the elections Fg, FF and also The greens Sf and Labour?

[feet first]

In reply to Michael Moloneys assesment.

Traditionally FF held 50% of the vote in Portlaoise , as was the case up until 2004.
When T Jacob went ind . he was formely FF and took some of the FF gene pool with him.
What was left was the hard core (Blind Loyalty) base of FF. this will remain, remember Jacobs vote is not that far removed from reverting to FF.
Aird and Sweeney are certs for FG , but K O Brien has tried unsuccessfully in 2004 when there was a surge to FG. and her vote fell shor ,despite the fact that she was defending a FG seat (Flanagans) Keegan is an unknown politically speaking and so not too many will pencil him in automatically, Buggy is not associated with the town,
SF are certs as are Jacob.

So the outgoing seats are safe , and whither the seventh.

[mmrebel]

a quick question does anyone have any idea what impact the large "dubs " population may have on local elections ? especially in mountmellcik.

[Anthony ml]

a quick question does anyone have any idea what impact the large "dubs " population may have on local elections ? especially in mountmellcik.

Little or no impact, most of them dont vote

[willoughby]

Cant see fine gael not getting a third seat in Portlaoise. Forty votes was a fairly tight margin the last time and lets not forget the unemployment blackspot porlaoise now is. These voters who have lost there jobs are not going to vote FF. Sinn Fein will not gain. Expect to See an extra independent.