Cowen country bucks trend

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen retreated to the safety bunker of his native Offaly at the weekend where the Fianna Fáil local council vote increased while it was decimated in the rest of the country.

Cowen country bucked the national trend as Fianna Fáil held its position as the main party in Offaly County Council and increased its share of first preference votes.

The Taoiseach’s brother, Barry Cowen, was elected on the first count topping the poll in Tullamore and was soon joined by Brian Cowen’s popular constituency secretary Sinead Dooley. Mr Cowen’s running mate in the 2007 general election, John Foley, topped the poll in the Edenderry area and got in on the first count.