Desperate residents forced to evacuate their flooded homes tonight claimed they have been abandoned by officials.

KILDARE North by-election winner Catherine Murphy yesterday pledged to be a thorn in the side of the establishment until the constituency gets the services it needs.

Candidates vying for seats in Kildare North and Meath enter their final days of campaigning this week.

THE Government is facing procedural mayhem in the Dáil, if it blocks Fine Gael and Labour’s moves to call the Meath and North Kildare by-elections before St Patrick’s Day.

The Labour Party has selected local councillor Paddy MacNamara as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming Kildare North by-election.