COUNCIL PROFILE: WESTMEATH:ONE THING is certain about Westmeath. "There's not a scent of an Independent," as one observer puts it. This county council is a firmly party-affiliated authority – be it Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or Labour.
There are eight Independent candidates running in the five electoral areas but they have a hill to climb to win a seat.
Westmeath is home to the infamous Mullingar Accord between Fine Gael and Labour, agreed for the 2007 election. It was chosen because in 2004 the two parties, for the first time since 1985, took control of the county council from Fianna Fáil. While there may be no national accord, at local level they are confident they will remain in charge after Friday.
The economy is the main issue bothering constituents, particularly given the significant population of public servants. Local issues – raging for years – are also raised: restoration of the railway line between Mullingar and Athlone, and Mullingar hospital.
Boundary changes to bring Coole from three to four seats bothers candidates, particularly sitting councillors. Athlone loses one seat but it has also meant the loss of chunks of other areas.
This could prove difficult in Mullingar West for councillor Robert Troy (FF) who has lost a significant part of his base. But the change could benefit former councillor PJ Coghill (FF) who lost his seat in Athlone in 2004. Much of his base has moved into Kilbeggan, so he is moving there too. Athlone currently has four Fianna Fáil and three Fine Gael councillors, all of whom are standing again, so it will be a battle royal because it loses one seat. Fianna Fáil is predicted to lose two. Fine Gael is running four to keep three, including new candidate Gabrielle McFadden, sister of Senator Nicky McFadden.
Labour had a major success in 2004 with six seats overall, and while the party would be happy to retain six, it wants one in Athlone, the only area without Labour representation. The party has invested in young candidate Lisa Burke, who is in contention for the last seat. So too is Sinn Féin’s Paul Hogan, who has a seat on Athlone town council.
In the new four-seat Coole area, councillors Paddy Hill (FF) and Frank McDermott (FG) are running again. Eugene Dolan (Lab) is not running again. Councillor Dan McCarthy (Lab), who represented Mullingar East, is moving along with much of his electoral area into Coole and is expected to keep the seat.
There are nine candidates from the three main parties going for the four Kilbeggan seats. All sitting councillors – two Fine Gael, one Fianna Fáil and one Labour – are seeking re-election.
Mullingar East and West are now Labour heartlands, much of it because of the popularity of Labour TD Willie Penrose, whose brother Johnny represents West, as does the 23-member local authority’s only female councillor – Detty Cornally (Lab). Ken Glynn (FF) son of Senator Camillus Glynn is also expected to hold on.
In Mullingar East, hugely popular Mick Dollard (Lab) had a phenomenal vote in 2004, and both he and Denis Leonard (Lab) should be re-elected. Three Independents are running in East, of whom Brian Fagan, with an active campaign, could poll well. The sole Green candidate in the county council is Seán Corrigan.
State of the parties:
(Outgoing)
Fianna Fáil9
Fine Gael8
Labour6
