Grace Halford was a reporter for the Leinster Express and then went to the now defunct 'Laois Voice'.Originally Posted by The Real King
I stand to be corrected on the following:
A) She is from Kildare and B) During her time at UCD she was a member of The Kevin Barry Cumann.
I see the seats in the Emo area being filled in the folowing order:
1. James Deegan 2. Ray Cribbin. 3. Frances Emerson: The final seat to hard to call at this early stage.
Michael Moloney MCC (I) Laois CC
With the lost of SW Offaly in the next GE, is it safe to assume that if FG run 3 canddiates then the 3rd candidate will come from Laois. If so, could the local elections be seen as a 'primary' for the last FG candidate slot. And if FG run a third candidate from Laois, could there be some merit in choosing a candidate from the Portarlington area, where the party vote is poor on both sides of the county boundary? Hence (I'm getting there)...
...why not entice Frances Emerson into the party with promise of a run out at the next GE if she's successful in the locals and picks up an extra seat for the party in Emo?
She wouldn't be taking Enright votes, she'd be eating into precious few Flanagan votes and she could take votes both in the Emo and Edenderry LEAs!!!
Responce to APKavanagh
I think Frances would be a great choice for the General Elections
There is a huge vote to be had in Port/Gracefield and she would pick up votes in and around Edenderry
People over that side of the constitionsy never have a choice of good canidate from another party.
Her Mother was local represenative in her earlier career in Offaly.
Personnally I could not see her having a huge impact Enright or Flanagans vote she may take a 1000 votes apiece but that would not impact hughly enough to be fatal for both of them.
Alot will depend on what way Mitchell will go after the Right Wingers Disband tomorrow.(8 Nov).
If Mitchell declares he is going with FG then you could add Frances as a Third canidate.
If Mitchell decides to go it alone then she will be for sure heads above any of the other canidates Mulhall or Who is Grace Halford?
PS. I would love to know what area Ml Moloney is going to go in?
Next he will be looking for the Republican Nomination in the US for 2012!!
On Cushen's 'losinga a large area of votes'.....Having looked at the data from 04 and spoken to a fellow coucillor it looks that he could have got at best between 50 and 60 out of that area that is now moved to Luggacurran. Should he stand in 09 I believe he will not make the cut and the shortfall will be far greater than 60 votes.
Michael Moloney MCC (I) Laois CC
Theres a lot of talk about Mitchell joining FG but the question is do FG want him, and what about Emerson, sure her family have a interest of been in politics but that does not guarantee her a seat on the council, if FF or FG thought she was a credible candidate they would have encouraged her to put the name of the FF or FG ticket. She could also have held off until after this weekend and if the PD's are not disbanded could go on the PD ticket
I've heard the person involved with the Port Railway Action Group is considering putting his name forward, if he does he'd get my number one vote.
Worth noting that FG have failed to win more than one seat in Emo in all LEs held since 1985. Key to poor performances has been dire performance in Port, and Labour's loss of seat in 1991, and failure to make any impact since then, has been similarly linked to weak vote in Port area (of course there wasn't even a Lab candidate here in 2004). Ultimately the key foir FG will be to get a strong candidate from the Port area from outside the party (on the assumption that there's no strong local FG potential candidate?)
The political scene in Port is going to be extremely fluid in 2009 if the turnout is anyway decent; can't see FF having its own way here next time out - is going to be very interesting - and a shock result can't be discounted...though, technically, if we're not discouting a shock result, then does that make it a shock result if it happens...sorry, I'm rambling...
FF had its worst performance in Laois in the Emo area in 04 so it is possible that on a lucky it could get a second seat ( at this stage I'm very doubtful).
With six candidates from Port likely to be on the ballot, the ones to take the seats will have to do well on the first count but must also have the ability to get those all important number 2s from across the board as the candidates are eliminated.
This is where Frances Emerson will out shine the other first time candidates, the question is can she keep ahead of Paul Mitchell, for me the answer is yes.
But it must be very unlikely that Port can deliver 3 of the 4 seats so could the last seat end up elsewhere?
Michael Moloney MCC (I) Laois CC
as the local elections is six months away its great we are getting a insight into potential candidates and who in your opinion will be successful.
The talk so far is about candidates in the emo area, as overf 50% of people living here moved to the area in the last five years, just because you were born in the area is not going to guarantee you a seat in this election.
I'd like to see some of the blowins putting their name forward
Sinn Fein on course to take an extra town council seat in Portlaois. Dont underestimate their chanches of taking a town council seat in Mountmellick were they are running a very strong candidate Stephen Lynch
Does anyone reilly believe that FF want to remain in power,they want out. They have made such a mess of the economy that it can not be rescued any time soon. They will let FG/Labour in, or should I say hand them the mess.They will fail also because their polices are much the same and the ordinary people will continue to suffer as a result.
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