Any word on movements in local electoral circles in Laois and Offaly? Should be interesting this time.

FF took a hit in Laois in 2004, so difficult to see if they're going to lose out further this time or to see where FG and SF could make gains. I know Labour have selected a candidate in Borris in Ossory - Laurence Kavanagh, who was co-opted to replace his father, the late Larry Kavanagh, isn't going to run and a party member from Rathdowney (whose name I can't think of at the moment) will run instead. My guess is that, with Borris losing a seat in the boundary redrawals, Labour will lose out this time around. Jim O'Brien, who had a decent-'ish' election (i.e. his campaign was good, though he didn't do well votes-wise, although he at least got over 1,000 votes, unlike his Offaly running mate) in GE2007, is likely to run, though his political base would be in the Mountmellick area, and there's little scope for gains there given FF's political dominance there.
Labour are planning to contest all the electoral area in Laois-Offaly, as this Laois Nationalist article outlines and O'Brien seems to be a good addition for the party, but hard to see how many seats they can win: Laois Nationalist - 2008/05/29: Labour sounds first shots in local elections

Oops didn't realise there was already a fourm for Laois open; Laois local elections 2009

Maybe this forum could focus on Offaly???

The Edenderry LEA will be interesting with the current 2FF 2PD 1FG bound to change, and with the addition of an extra seat in the west.

Could it go 3FF 3FG?

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Is John Foley only running in the Town Council election? Given his strong support in the GE, I would have thought he would have been going for the County Council election to build on his support base ahead of another run in the next GE?

I think there are three FFers in Edenderry itself looking for a nod, but I don't think Foley is one of them. Stephen Mather in the Bracknagh Cumann was nominated as well, but he pretty much has the southern part of the district to himself so should be fine.

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Does this mean that Cowen will be looking for a new running mate in the next GE? Could the Edenderry vote almost amount to a FF primary for the running mate position?

If the constituency were to split, then Edenderry would be the obvious home for a third seat.

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Any constituency split won't come to play until the 2016/7 GE at the earliest... But you're right; a three seat Offaly would probably see the seats divided out between Tullamore, Birr and Edenderry based candidates

Eddie Fitzpatrick has left the PDs and gone independent - he'll have good support from Portarlington though whether it will be enough is another question. Fergus McDonnell has been quite trenchant in his support of the PDs over the last while. It will be interesting to see what way he jumps if there is a change there and if he's in a position to hold on to his seat whereever he goes.

Will Killaly contest the election at all? It will surely be hard for him to have the stomach for it, considering the collapse of the hotel project and the legal quagmire that has resulted.

Edenderry TC is a funny fish - there's a lot of annoyance there that it's not a ratable authority so there may be some interesting changes there, with rumours that at least one of the current council has decided not to run again because they are essentially toothless. It might mean more competition for county council nominations. Anyone know anything about this?

Birr will be interesting too - will Tony McLoughlin run again? Will Seán Doorley take up the FF mantle and be successful there? He's currently chair of the TC which could act in his favour if he does run.

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