The field narrows in New Ross
A NEW-LOOK New Ross Municipal District council comes into being following the local elections, which take place on Friday, May 24, with some new candidates emerging in a bid to unseat sitting councillors.
The district is shrinking from an eight to a six seat electoral area and even with two sitting councillors stepping down the field has narrowed somewhat for new candidates.
Earlier this year Sinn Fein Cllr Oisin O’Connell announced that he was resigning from politics to focus on his business and family.
Cllr Marie Doyle was duly co-opted. In February Fine Gael Cllr Larry O’Brien announced he was retiring from politics after 27 years, followed swiftly by Independent councillor, and poll topper in the 2014 election, Martin Murphy.
So as it stands there are six incumbent councillors: Michael Whelan, John Fleming, Willie Fitzharris, Michael Sheehan, Anthony Connick and Marie Doyle. To date five people have announced their candidacy for the election, namely Susan Breen from Dunganstown, Bridín Moloney from Cushinstown, Pat Barden from Adamstown, Bridín Murphy from Clonroche, John Dwyer from New Ross and Aidan Quigley from Carrig-on-Bannow.
The Boundary commission shrunk the district last year, meaning Clongeen, Wellingtonbridge, Taghmon and neighbouring townlands are now in different electoral areas. Taghmon has been subsumed into the eight seat Wexford Borough electoral area, while Wellingtonbridge and Clongeen (and parts of Foulksmills) are now located in the Rosslare municipal district.
Traditionally New Ross always
Moloney’s had a Labour camp councillor are hopeful so she Bridín bring some of the Labour fighting spirit into the chamber, while Fine Gael are hopeful that Bridín Murph can shore up a large vote from nor of the N25 where cathaoirleachJ Fleming is aiming to retain his vote.
The 2014 elections saw a conges electoral area to the east with O’Connell, Cllr Murphy, Cllr Whelan and Cllr Fitzharris vying for votes, with the withdrawal of Cllr O’Connell and Cllr Murphy, the prospects looking better for the two remaining incumbents who are backed by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael party litical machines respectively.
In New Ross seasoned candida Cllr Dwyer (Independent) is aiming to be the cat among the pigeons he competes with Cllr Connick and Cllr Sheehan for votes.
Due to the smaller number candidates a large first preference
vote will be required in the May elections, with some pundits saying up to 1,400 votes will be required to get a candidate over the line.
Newcomer Susan Breen is an activist for climate change for people’s rights and she is hoping her grassroots work will win over voters. Bridín Murphy is a Fine Gael stalwart who works with children in social care and she is hoping to win over the party faithful and the general voter as she hits the campaign trail this week.
Former county footballer Pat Barden, who hails from a long tailed Fethard-on-Sea family is aiming to pick up votes throughout the district, while Bridín Moloney has hit the ground running with her campaign and is looking to pick up votes in New Ross, Cushinstown and across the district. Housing, health and youth facilities are among the issues she is campaigning on.