Three sitting councillors tipped to be returned

THIS looks the easiest of the 10 Cork County Council electoral areas to predict, especially as it’s only a three-seater – and the three outgoing councillors are firm favourites to be returned.

The three big hitters among the seven candidates are Fine Gael pair of Kevin Murphy who received 2,761 first preferences in 2004 and Veronica Neville who secured 2,763, along with Fianna Fáil’s Alan Coleman, who had 2,216 first preferences.

Coleman acknowledges that being a FF candidate this time out was “definitely difficult” on the doorsteps but, being the sole party candidate in what still remains a solid FF base, he’s assured of a comfortable vote.