Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to form council alliance

It looks as if Civil War politics in Kerry — where the conflict was at its most bitter — could soon be over, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael forming an alliance on the county council.

With nine seats apiece, the parties would have an 18-15 majority on the new 33-member council.

Fine Gael, Labour, and Independents controlled the previous 27-member council. But, with both Fine Gael and Labour losing seats and Sinn Féin increasing its representation, a possibility of a new alignment has opened up. Sinn Féin now has five seats, Labour two, and Independents eight.