FF in challenge to overcome poor reception on doorsteps

WATERFORD City Council’s three electoral areas have been altered slightly, and renamed, for these elections.

And so Waterford No1 becomes Waterford City North, Waterford No 2 becomes Waterford City East, and Waterford No 3 becomes Waterford City South.

In Waterford East, a bruising brawl to the death could be witnessed between councillors from the two biggest parties.

It has been given an additional seat, reflecting the sizeable growth in Waterford East, particularly the populace of the Dunmore Road area, in recent years.

Fianna Fáil surely recognises this, as it is running four candidates in the area in the local elections.

The party did not fare well here in 2005, with no councillors from that ward succeeding to the council, and just one member, Cllr Tom Murphy — who sits as a Waterford South representative — on Waterford City Council at present.

In terms of party politics, the gauntlet has been firmly thrown down by Fine Gael, with two outgoing councillors hungry for re-election in Waterford East.

One of the Fianna Fáil candidates who failed to get elected in 2004 is Stephanie Keating. Her 422 first preference votes put her narrowly ahead of Michael Ivory, who is running as an Independent candidate this time around.

Other Fianna Fáil candidates expected to poll well in this electoral area are Pat Ormond, who comes from a strong political pedigree and is a nephew of former TD, Donnie Ormond. Local businessman Gary Wyse and Catherine O’Neill, both popular in their own right, will no doubt give him a run for his money.

However, the poor reception that Fianna Fáil has been reportedly getting at the doorstep is certainly a challenge to overcome here, especially as Independent candidate and former Mayor of Waterford city, Davy Daniels, tops the poll in this area, year after year.

Jim D’Arcy and Tom Cunningham, Fine Gael Waterford City Councillors, will again poll alongside Jacqueline Kelly, who received a very respectable 471 first preferences last time out.

Cllr Jack Walsh, the city’s Mayor, is strong here also and in the current economic climate, should do well as Labour’s sole candidate in Waterford East. Independent Waterford City Councillor Mary Roche does consistently well in this electoral area also.

Maria Raftis Kennedy replaces Brendan McCann as the Green Party’s candidate in this electoral area and Joe Tobin of the Workers Party and Bill Hayes of Sinn Féin face challenges.

And Sheikh M Ahmed, has also been working very hard to gain ground. A personable candidate, he could do reasonably well in the polls — and not just from minority voters.

Waterford South, the former Ward 3 has lost a seat since the last local elections. The six sitting city councillors vying for votes in this six-seated electoral area are again looking for re-election.

However, Cllr John Halligan, who topped the polls last time will this year run as an Independent.

Halligan resigned from the Workers’ Party in February 2008, rather than vacate his seat on the council because he voted in that year’s budget estimates against party policy.

This councillor has a huge following in this area and the Workers Party could regret this.

Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane is a very strong draw here also, as are Labour’s Seamus Ryan and Independent Laurence (Cha) O’Neill.

Even though Fianna Fáil candidates are reportedly not being received well countrywide, the erstwhile Cllr Murphy (FF), a Ballybeg resident, can garner great support from this sprawling local authority estate.

Fianna Fáil’s Elaine Walsh is hoping to attract the younger vote here.

Cllr Mary O’Halloran (FG), Deputy Mayor and former mayor, is a popular choice, while her running mate here is Senator Maurice Cummins’s son, John.

Undoubtedly, the looming issue in Waterford is the quest to upgrade the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) to university status.

The other huge issue so far this year is the closure of Waterford Crystal and Donie Fell, a worker with 38 years’ service at the plant, will run as an Independent backed by the People Before Profit Alliance.

In Waterford North, formerly Ward 1, Fianna Fáil could be in very serious trouble indeed.

Cllr Hilary Quinlan (FG) and Cllr Pat Hayes (Labour) are the big guns in this part of the city.

Davy Walsh, of the Workers’ Party virtually cleans up in the Ferrybank area of the city, where he lives.

Another former Waterford Crystal worker, Joe Kelly (SF), an active trade unionist, will only see his stock rise in his area.

Dick Roche, former President of the Waterford Council of Trade Unions (WCTU) and an Independent, will have built up votes from his various causes over the years, especially his work with the Cancer Care Alliance.

Waterford County Council

TRAMORE will see an increase in elected representation on the county council by one seat, giving it seven in total.

Fine Gael is trying to increase to increase its stronghold — from three to possibly five seats — on Tramore Town Council.

And 19-year-old Leaving Cert student, Tom Raine, will run alongside a teacher at his school, Ann Marie Power, who topped the poll in 2005.

A third level student, Maxine Keoghan, will also run under the FG banner. Sinn Féin is hoping that Declan Clune gets a seat at the Tramore table.

Tramore councillors Lola O’Sullivan and Ms Power, along with John Carey from Passage East and Pat Barron from Knockeen in Butlerstown, are Fine Gael contesters for Waterford Co Council seats.

Challenging Independent candidates include Blaise Hannigan, Eddie Walsh, Pat Finnerty, James McCartan and Joe Conway, while Labour is represented by sitting member, Paddy O’Callaghan.

Pat Daly, Joe O’Shea and Geoff Power are to represent Fianna Fáil in the race, while Stan Nangle from the Green Party is looking for election onto both Tramore Town and Waterford Co Councils.

Eight candidates are going for county council seats. Fianna Fáil hope Benji Whelan, John O’Leary and Michael J O’Ryan make their way onto the Council.