Kildare GE runners & riders

[sandar]

FG could and maybe should run two, to take out FF, who are really entrenched because of the geographical balance in the county.
Wall will certainly hand over.
Would Heydon be looking for a GE nomination.
Where is O'Donnell's heartland?

[Effin Effer!!!]

FG could and maybe should run two, to take out FF, who are really entrenched because of the geographical balance in the county.
Wall will certainly hand over.
Would Heydon be looking for a GE nomination.
Where is O'Donnell's heartland?

I would have to agree that Wall will hand over, most likely to his son. Dynasties aren't the preserve of Finna Fail and Fine Gael it seem's

Heydon will definitely be looking for the Dail nomination. Word I have is that he is actively talking about it already and sounding people out. But given the population in his area he could only ever be a sweeper, as I can't see him taking out SO'F.

As for O'Donnell. Don't let the surname distract you. His father is from Donegal, but his mother's family are very much local.. I should remind posters that O'Donnell is originally from Newbridge (unlike Power, as mentioned above) and has also spent many years living in Milltown. Currently he is living in Kildare Town, where he has in fairness, seriously imbedded himself into the local community over the last three years. Not a bad little triangle to have as a heartland! Strong family connections in Newbridge, Kildare Town, Rathangan, Milltown, Allenwood, Monasterevin and Athy that go back generations. On an aside, I got a nice little giggle when I read the Kildare Nationalist in work last week. A lovely photo of young Heydon with Mr's. Wright who is a strong Fine Gael supporter and will be 100 very soon. If my history of Kildare politics serves me correctly at all, her late husband was a member of the Blueshirts and a former Fine Gael councillor, but more importantly she's O'Donnell's Grand Aunt.

As for Spike, word among the Fine Gael heads in Newbridge is that he isn't interested in running for the Dail, despite serious encouragement. Can anyone confirm this as true or denounce it as nonsence?

[just_society2]

Would Kildare not be a large swing constituency with young and disaffected commuters in so called 'Deckland'. This area, and Meath, supported FF heavily last time out, I can't see them voting as much for them next time out.

FG should kick themselves if they don't pick up two seats in Kildare next time.

[sandar]

Effing Effer you have some local knowledge fair play to you.
Spike senior never went for the Dsail that I know of, so maybe junior wont either.
If O'Donnell is from Newbridge, his profile isnt as high there as might be, and if Im right he has been elected in a different LEA.
But definitely having the Kildare Town and Milltown and Newbridge lick is great, especially if he can highlight the Newbridge side of that triangle soon.
Also probably the demagraphic shift in Kildare with more outsiders coming in might make the geogrpahical bit a little less relevant.
Hetydon would have a good profile in GAA circles, which should not be underestimated. He was secretary I think of his club, which would mean he would be dealing withe people from all over the constituency.
In tersm of the Dail, his base is very much the same as that which Rainsford Hendy had, and Hendy was only ever a sweeper for Dukes, the Kildare ctown candidate, so a pattern emerges. Buts aying that Heydon probably has a better electoral profile that Hendy ever did.
FG have also opened an office in Newbridge, as a first step to establishing its presence in the town.

[Effin Effer!!!]

I for one do not think that Kildare is as cut and dried as some commentators predict.

Kildare North:
I doubt if Fitzpatrick will run again. Brady will be the FF standard bearer and will probably hold.

Emmet Staag will more than likely splutter on for another term. Might consider a sweeper candidate.

Durkan has for years scraped in and squatted on that FG seat without either giving the local organisation or a half decent successor a chance to groom. Poor local result in Celbridge really hampers his chances of reelection. Yes, Scully did well in the locals, but FG cannot be complacent about their seat in Ke nth.

Fitzpatrick will run again - no obvious successor and worked hard over so many years to get it to just bow out after one term. Alot of his vote will hold up, so he can't be completely ruled out. Altough I do accept that he is the weaker of the two Fianna Fail T.D.'s

Stagg will hold on, but who's coming after him for Labour?

Agreed on your final comment. Many Fine Gael grassroot's in Kildare North seem to think they have a second seat in the bag. And I've seen first hand in Laois/Offaly what that type of thinking in Fine Gael supporters can have on Polling Day. Ref: Tom Parlon.

Kildare South:

2 solid FF's hard to shift. Jack Wall should surely pass on the mantle to the son, as he's of pensionable age himself. FG have currently no seat. Easiest option is to select only one candidate. Yes they did very well in the locals in Kil Sth, but the GE is a different kettle of fish. I would favour Tony O' Donnell personally, but it remains to be said how well the potentials establish themselves in the area in the next 12 months.

Would see Wall's son holding the seat. Can't see any of Fine Gael's young guns taking out either of the Fianna Fail T.D.'s just yet. The core vote was allowed to drop to far due to ridiculous candidate selection in 2007. It will take a good few years putting in serious spadework in the Council and at least one good General Election under the belt before it happens for them.

[sandar]

I know martin heydon through the GAA, but what age would odonnell be?

[Effin Effer!!!]

Effing Effer you have some local knowledge fair play to you.
Spike senior never went for the Dsail that I know of, so maybe junior wont either.
If O'Donnell is from Newbridge, his profile isnt as high there as might be, and if Im right he has been elected in a different LEA.
But definitely having the Kildare Town and Milltown and Newbridge lick is great, especially if he can highlight the Newbridge side of that triangle soon.
Also probably the demagraphic shift in Kildare with more outsiders coming in might make the geogrpahical bit a little less relevant.
Hetydon would have a good profile in GAA circles, which should not be underestimated. He was secretary I think of his club, which would mean he would be dealing withe people from all over the constituency.
In tersm of the Dail, his base is very much the same as that which Rainsford Hendy had, and Hendy was only ever a sweeper for Dukes, the Kildare ctown candidate, so a pattern emerges. Buts aying that Heydon probably has a better electoral profile that Hendy ever did.
FG have also opened an office in Newbridge, as a first step to establishing its presence in the town.

I believe O'Donnell has the G.A.A. thing in the bag as well, current Chairman of the local club in Kildare Town.

Agreed on your annalysis of Dukes and Hendy.

The only reason I mentioned Spike not running for the Dail is that I hear he is going to allow O'Donnell hold clinic's in the office in Newbridge???

[Effin Effer!!!]

I know martin heydon through the GAA, but what age would odonnell be?

28 I think.

[sandar]

If O'Donnell is Towers chairman that will help him immensely.
The advantage of being club secretary as opposed to chairman(heydon is secretary i think of laurences) is that you deal almost all of the time with rival clubs.
I doubt FG headquraters would have paid for an Office in Newbridge if they thought the Nolans were going to use it, they are not serious individuals, and only Mrs Nolan would have personal popularity in the town

[sandar]

Im twenty seven, and I've played GAA dfor a newbridge club and went to school there and dont know O'Donnell, and I would like to think there are not many of my geberation I dont know in the town, of course there are some though.