A crowded pitch in Donegal Electoral Area
With 14 candidates now declared for the Donegal Electoral Area and an increased quota required as a result of the reduction from six seats to five, this southern area promises to be one of the most interesting and highly contested battlegrounds in the county on June 5th.
With the popularity of the Government at an all-time low the state of the economy is likely to weigh heavily on the shoulders of Fianna Fail candidates. Recent cutbacks in health and education, the contoversey over the Cancer services, recent and continuing job losses, pension levies and bank bail-outs spell out problems not only for those directly affected but also signals some highly persuasive canvassing on the doorsteps for Fianna Fail candidates if they are to retain their dominance.
Donegal Town and its environs has emerged as an extremely tight playing field with seven candidates now confirmed in the race and there is a fear amongst some of the candidates that they will cancel each other out.
Cllr. Jonathan Kennedy expressed his frustration to the Donegal Democrat, “After years of hard work and a lot of progress, it looks like Donegal Town is in danger of pressing the self-destruct button.
“We are in great danger of losing a seat at council level for Donegal Town which would be disastrous at a time when there is so much development on the horizon.”
Apart from Kennedy, the sitting councillor, the town has a number of high profile candidates including former Mayor, Ernan Mc Gettigan, former Donegal under-21 and senior team manager, Tom Conaghan, Labour’s Shay Carbin who is closely associated with the farming sector and Sinn Fin’s Jim Mc Laughlin who has mounted an intensive campaign.
Recent entrants into this race include Tommy Quinn from Mountcharles and Eamonn Mc Ginty from Barnesmore who both enjoy considerable personal support.
The southern tip of the area which encompasses Bundoran and Ballyshannon and Pettigo/Ballintra and Rossnowlagh is much less crowded and perhaps is the most predictable.
Sitting councillors Sean Mc Eniff and Barry O’Neill are joined by environmentalist Patricia McCafferty from Bundoran in a quest to secure maximum representation for their respective areas.
McCafferty has focussed on environmental and green issues over the last number of years and has succeeded in overturning some contoversial planning decisions. Running on what she describes as an ‘anti-corruption’ theme, Ms McCafferty has been very visible onthe campaign trail and reports excellent feedback from the electorate.
With 50 years’ political experience behind him and a wide area to draw votes, Mc Eniff would be expected to pass the post yet again in spite of the anti-government sentiment.
"This is not like any other years and you can take nothing for granted. I am out there like everyone else fighting for my political life and I will do so until the very end. Hopefully my record of delivering in the past will get me through. There's a lot of life left in the ‘ould dog" yet’,” said Mc Eniff.
Ballyshannon’s Fine Gael councillor, Barry O’Neill who squeaked past the post last time out has used his five years as a councillor well. He has been to the forefront in the campaign to retain the Cancer Services at Sligo General Hospital and has broadened his base considerably.
He has also been voiceferous on many contentious issues and is expected to retain his seat with an increased vote.
The introduction by Fine Gael of new candidate Barry Mc Shane in the Kilcar/Inthrough area has also made the Western area of the Electoral Area highly unpredictable.
Sources on the ground indicate that Mc Shane is gaining momentum and could pose a serious threat to sitting councillor, Brendan Byrne as well as his running mate Cllr. John Boyle.
Boyle, who enjoyed a high profile as Mayor of Donegal last year is a popular figure in the Frosses/Inver area and is highly respected as a councillor. The feeling on the ground is that Boyle will take the seat with the help of a high transfer from both Mc Shane and O’Neill.
The front runner for the fourth seat must be Sinn Fin’s Jim McLaughlin who has mounted an intensive campaign over the last two months.
The Donegal Town based McLaughlin was drafted in after the tragic death of the late Mayor of Ballyshannon, P J Branley, has the advantage of a well - oiled machine behind him and has no restrictions on areas in relation to his canvass. Should he harness the poll topping vote of Sinn Fein in 2004 when Thomas Pringle received 2,334 votes on behalf of the party, this should see him through.
With one remaining seat left in the area one can expect a nail biting finish with the potential for many recounts.
This seat will see a battle amongst some experienced political heavyweights including outgoing councillors Jonathan Kennedy, Thomas Pringle, Brendan Byrne and newcomer, the Independent candidate, Tom Conaghan as well as the high profile former Mayor of Donegal town, Ernan McGettigan.
The party with most to lose out in this election is without doubt Fianna Fail. In the present economic climate and with the increased quotas, it would be hard to see them retaining their three seats.
The candidates running in Donegal electoral area are: Sean McEniff, Fianna Fail; Brendan Byrne, Fianna Fail; Jonathan Kennedy, Fianna Fail; Tommy Quinn, Non Party; Seamus Carbin, Labour; Tom Conaghan, Non party; Thomas Pringle, Non Party; Ernan McGettigan, Non Party; Patricia McCafferty, Non Party; Jim McLaughlin, Non Party; John Boyle, Fine Gael; Barry McShane, Fine Gael; Barry O’Neill, Fine Gael; Eamon McGinty, Non Party.
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Weather for Donegal
Thursday 17 May 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 10 C
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Wind direction: South west
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