Council wannabes slowly emerging from the woodwork
An estimated 50 people will be darkening doors around the city over the next couple of months in the hope of attaining the glitz and glamour that is the life of a city councillor. And what an array of hopefuls it could turn out to be, ranging from the old reliables who have paced the hallowed halls of power for decades to the “new blood” coming in for the first time.
With political parties not having officially confirmed their selections, the list of possibilities is quite a colourful one.
Limerick South (Formerly Ward 3 and 4)
The Limerick South electoral constituency came about after the merging of Wards 3 and 4, wich include parts of the City Centre, Prospect, Ballinacurra Weston, Rathbane, Southill, and Janesborough. The combined wards will be losing one of their seats however, so sitting councillors will have to fight even harder to retain their seats, as one of them is definately going to be out of a job. So who is in the running.
Jim Hickey (Progressive Democrats): Mr. Hickey, according to the Limerick Leader, has indicated that he is highly likely to run, whether or not the 4,000 strong party membership decide to disband the Progressive Democrats at their special meeting next month. Whether he runs as an independent or joins a political party is unknown. However, given that most of the parties have already begun their selection processes, running as an independent would increase his chances.
Frank Fortune (Fianna Fail): Fianna Fail will not be holding a convention to select candidates for 2009’s elections, choosing instead to interview hopefuls. Fortune’s name is one of four within Fianna Fail being mooted as a possible candidate. He is a prominent member of Ogra Fianna Fail and is a member of the family made famous by their flooring and bedding business empire.
Anna Banko (Fianna Fail): Hoping to be the first non-Irish member of Limerick City Council, Banko runs a manicure business on Fox’s Bow. At least if she breaks a nail handing out leaflets, she will know exactly what to do.
Jack Bourke (Fianna Fail): Already canvassing according to the Limerick Leader, Bourke is hoping to take back the seat he lost in 2004.
Orla McGloughlan (Labour): The daughter of current city councillor Gerry McGloughlan, she is one of two people who it is hoped will win a second seat in the South Constituency. The party is confident that Joe Leddin will hold his seat in this constituency.
James Houlihan (Independent): After being at the centre of a row and eventual fracturing of the Labour Party in Limerick City Council, Houlihan has decided to embark on a solo career and run as an independent candidate, which may put the kybosh on Labour getting a second seat.
Pat Kennedy (Independent): Kennedy, a former member of Fine Gael, is already darkening our doorsteps, and the doorsteps of those living in the new part of his constituency. A long serving councillor, he stands an excellent chance of being re-elected.
Sean O’Niell (Republican Sinn Fein) O’Neill is a senior member of the RSF party in Limerick City and has been for many years. He considered running in the last General Election but decided not to do so due to ill-health.
Anthony Kelly (Independent) The brother of the late City Alderman Michael Kelly, Anthony has told the Leader that he may give the oul’ politics ago, but made it clear that the alleged sheebeen being run by his brother Francis will not be on his agenda.
Fine Gael are unlikely to change their current set up, with the four currently in seats likely to contest them again. Sinn Fein have yet to announce a name for the Limerick South Constituency, as do the Socialist Party. In 2004, they ran the youngest local election candidate Aisling Golden.
Limerick North (Formerly Ward 1)
With the residents of Cahirdavin and Moyross now part of the new City North constituency, you can expect some surprises here in this constituency. The Leader predicts 15 candidates from eight parties. So who are these people?
Cormac Hurley (Fine Gael): Limerick County Council’s loss will be the City Council’s gain no doubt, if Hurley is elected. (OK I’m being diplomatic) Hurley is running in the city the location of his base changed hands following the partial boundary extension. I wonder will he now support a full boundary extension now that he is running in the City?
Joe Crowley (Fianna Fail): Fianna Fail are hoping to take an extra seat in this constituency, and it is expected that they will be pinning their hopes on businessman Joe Cowley. He is expected to be joined on the party tickey by sitting councillor John Cronin.
Maurice Quinlivan (Sinn Fein): Hoping to fair better in the locals than in the last General Election, Quinlivan looks set to be ratified as the Sinn Fein candidate for Limerick North.
James Nix (Green Party): Unsuccessful in the General Election as a candidate in Limerick West last year, Nix is hoping to contest as the first ever Green candidate for the Northside.
Conor O’Donoghue (Christian Solidarity Party): As with all CSP members, there is little information to hand about him, other than that in the last local election he received 67 votes. A candidate who truely could use some divine intervention.
Mick Ryan (Republican Sinn Fein): Known affectionately as “The Quill”, Ryan is a former employee of Limerick City Council and is from Ballynanty. In all there are three RSF candidates running in Limerick, two in the city, and one in the County.
Labour are due to hold their selection convention next week.
Limerick East (Formerly Ward 2)
The constituency of Mayor John Gilligan, the boundary of this constituency remains unchanged since the last local elections, So who are the ones to watch.
Kieran Walshe (Independent): Amid claims of cliques and closed shop operations, Walshe was part of the two-man exodus from the Labour Party earlier this year. He had previously indicated that he would run as an Independent but his position on this now is unknown.
Catherine O’Farrell (Fine Gael) A maybe from the Fine Gael Party is the unlucky Catherine, who managed to get more first preference votes than both Councillors McLoughlan and O’Hanlon, but was overtaken when it came to counting transferred votes. She has declared an interest in becoming a candidate.
Noel Hannan (Garryowen): Hannan is hoping that he can get a community hall for Garryowen, and believes that becoming a city councillor will help him achieve this. The memo stating that councillors have no real power hasn’t reached him yet.