Codd gets the nod from Peter’s students
IN recent times, given poor turnouts at polling stations around the country, there’s a recurring narrative around the ‘disillusioned youth’. We are told that young people take no interest in politics and have become disengaged with politics locally and nationally.
However, St Peter’s College seems to have bucked that particular trend as a mock election that took place in the school generated quite a bit of discussion both in and outside the school last week. The election offered students aged from 12 to 18 the opportunity to have their say on the candidates that will appear on the ballot papers of the Wexford electorate this Saturday.
The mock election was the idea of 6th year student Oisín Tiernan from Kilmore who put the whole thing together with the help of CSPE teacher Nicola Doyle and a group of plucky volunteers from second year.
The results were fascinating. While not a favourite to take a seat in after voters have their say this weekend, Aontú candidate Jim Codd topped the poll among the 555 students at St Peter’s College taking 154 first preference votes and being elected on the first count. He was followed by Labour’s Brendan Howlin, Sinn Féin’s Johnny Mythen, Independent candidate Ger Carthy and the final seat was taken by Malcolm Byrne who, once again, leap-frogged his party colleague Lisa McDonald having pulled in enough transfers after James Browne was ruled out.
‘I feel like Jim Codd’s slogan did him a lot of help,’ said Oisín Tiernan. ‘It’s very catchy and it sticks in the head. Some students even wrote “Give Codd the Nod” on their ballot paper!’
Perhaps the other shock was that Ger Carthy figured so highly in the selections of the students.
‘I think a lot of people would know Ger Carthy from their local area,’ Oisín explained. ‘We’d have a lot of students here who would be from Ger’s area and they opted to vote local.’
While the tag of ‘disillusioned youth’ is one that’s bandied around quite a bit, it’s worth noting that outside of Codd and Carthy, the rest of the candidates elected by the students were all from the main political parties.
‘I suppose young people don’t have the ability to express their discontent in the polling booth,’ said Oisín.
‘I’m only 17 myself so I won’t get to vote. I think in some cases, people will inevitably end up voting for who their friends are voting for or who their family members have voted for over a number of years.’
While the climate change issue is considered to be one of great importance among young people, Green candidate Paula Roseingrave managed just 15 first preference votes, while Fianna Fáil’s Michael Sheehan for some reason was most unpopular with the kids, taking just 5 first preference votes.
Cllr Jim Codd was delighted to see his name figure so highly in the mock election and he said:
‘It’s lovely to top a poll, but it’s even nicer to see the young people of St Peter’s College taking an interest in politics. Regardless of your beliefs or which candidate you favour, it’s important to use your vote. These 12-18 year-olds still in school realise that.’