This article is from page 48 of the 2009-03-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 48 JPG
THE only certainty in the upcoming Shannon Town Council election is change, how big that change will be all depends on the town’s reaction to the Government parties come poll- baer Ne
As the youngest town council in the county Civil War politics has had Iit- tle place in its make up.
Instead Shannon town, with its large manufacturing and multi na- tional investment has retained a La- bour stronghold.
Even its Independent councillors have a left leaning with Cllr Patri- cia McCarthy (Ind) starting out life in the town commission as a Labour councillor.
The Labour party will be hoping that a strong non-national workers vote will see Anna Kulikowska join Tony McMahon and Greg Duff in the council chambers in June.
Fine Gael is also planning for suc- cess in the upcoming local election, entering four candidates into the Ieelees
Last time out the main government Opposition party won an extra seat at Fianna Fail’s expense, and doubled its seats from one to two.
Will Government dissatisfaction see that trend continue?
While Fianna Fail has held the bal- ance of power in county councils and town councils it has struggled to fea- ture in Shannon.
That struggle is about to become an epic battle as the party has yet to find another running mate to join Noel McNamara and Woytek Wiesnuwski in the hustings.
Added to the soldiers of destiny troubles is the retirement of its two only sitting councillors – Sean Hillery and Geraldine Lambert.
With no experienced politician go- ing forward for Fianna Fail and the search on for at least one more candi- date, the party’s troubles are far from over.
Issues surrounding the airport and unemployment are likely to hit the Government party hardest in Shan- non town, as unemployment contin- ues to increase day by day.
Shannon Town Council has always been made up of strong Independent councillors who have fared well in elections.
Even Mike McKee retained his seat when he left Sinn Féin to run Inde- pendent in 2004. Former party col- league Cathy McCafferty was close on his heels in that election, just missing out on the seat.
It is not known if Cllr McKee will run in the election this time, making the Shannon Sinn Féin candidate a worthwhile bet.
Whatever his decision, changes are definitely ahead in 2009 in Shannon.
An extended boundary, a bigger electorate and new faces around the chamber table for the monthly meet- ings are the only guarantees.