Consituency Profile: Longford-Westmeath
Fine Gael and Labour stand every chance of retaining their three out of the four seats here, but they need a good day out to ensure that happens.
While Willie Penrose’s performance will be a litmus test for how Labour is doing nationally, given his strong following, he should be okay for a seat.
Should he win comfortably, then it will be a sign of a better-than-expected day for Labour. Should he struggle, then you would have to fear for the party’s chances overall.
Fine Gael TDs James Bannon and Gabrielle McFadden are standing this time around alongside Mullingar, Co Westmeath, councillor Peter Burke.
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The party’s ticket was formed in somewhat controversial circumstances. A headquarters directive ordered that there be one female and one male on the ticket, which assured Mr McFadden of a chance to run.
Mr Bannon, at a rowdy convention, overcame Mr Burke by 239 to 237 votes but, after a sustained campaign to party bosses, Mr Burke was added to the ticket.
We see Mr Bannon and Mr McFadden being returned.
Fianna Fáil’s Robert Troy won a seat in 2011 at a time when the party was imploding. He again looks set to retain his seat.
Television presenter and travel journalist Manchán Magan is the Green Party candidate but is not expected to be in contention.
There are several Independents in the field and two of them have joined Shane Ross’s Independent Alliance. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is a long-standing councillor in Athlone, Co Westmeath, originally from the Fianna Fáil gene pool. If there is no party candidate from Athlone, he could put up a strong challenge.
Former Goal aid worker Brian Fagan from Mullingar, Co Westmeath got more than 4,000 votes in the byelection and he could be in contention.
