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.

The farmer from Belgooly also happens to be leader of Fianna Fáil on the county council. Not that is any guarantee of re-election, having watched his predecessor in County Hall, then FF leader Vivian O’Callaghan from Bantry, lose his seat five years ago.

“There is a mixture of anger and fear on the doorsteps,” said Coleman.

Veronica Neville, a solicitor from Bandon, and Kevin Murphy, a full-time public representative from Kinsale, are not expected to have too many problems in being returned.

The four remaining candidates are not likely to create any real challenges to the trio’s dominance.

Last time out, Sinn Féin came closest when John Desmond, a popular town councillor, achieved 1,840 first preferences – just 400 behind Alan Coleman, who saw him off for the last seat.

This time, SF are running 25-year-old mother-of-two Rachel McCarthy. The Bandon woman believes she can sustain what she believes was a hard core of SF voters in the region, although observers would suggest a large proportion of Desmond’s votes were personal. Time will tell.

The five-times All Ireland coastal rowing champion will, however, have to make sure her oars are on fire if she’s to upset the form book.

Gearóid Buckley, who is running for Labour, says he’s “confident” of a seat and is determined to cause an upset.

The 22-year-old contender who lives in Bandon is the full-time president of the students’ union at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

Pundits believe he won’t make it across the finishing line this time but is putting down a marker for a political future.

Farmer Eddie Butler from Garrettstown has thrown his hat into the ring on a few occasions but, without any transfer base, is not likely to be in the running for a seat.

A newcomer is Nigerian Festus Peters Asemota, who is blind. He may have a chance in the town council elections, but is out of his depth for a County Hall seat.