Traditional FF strongholds turn into blackspots

A NUMBER of Fianna Fáil black spots have emerged around the country where the party traditionally enjoyed strong support but faced near wipeout at the weekend.

Large-scale job losses in Dell and the German car components manufacturer Kostal as well as concerns about gang crime led to a dissatisfaction with the Government party in Limerick where Fianna Fáil is down to just one seat in the city council.

The party got 49% of the share in the city’s Limerick East constituency in the 2007 general election, with Defence Minister, Willie O’Dea achieving the highest first preference vote in the country after Taoiseach Brian Cowen.