Sligo Local Council Elections 2024

Chauncey Gardner

I'm not exactly sure when the elections are, or who the runners and riders are, but I got my first election flyer from the Labour Party today.

Always a fasincating time. Looking forward to the jostling and sniping and various election issues the candiates come up with, pot-holes, new bypasses needed, noise issues, new bus routes, dog fouling etc and the accompanying Ocean FM debates and interviews.

Boards has always been a great place to share opinions and predictions. Lets get the election party started.

BronsonTB

Current gov have failed miserably on Health, Crime & Housing

No FF, FG or GP politician is getting my vote this time, no matter what they promise.

(Local or national)

Who I am left to vote for?? That's the bigger question for me...

Chauncey Gardner

I agree entirely. I guess like many, I’ve been a one party voter for many years. But that’s over. From here on, I’m going to scrutinise each manifesto and promise. Same as yourself, at this stage I really don’t know who’s going to get my vote.

Chauncey Gardner

Local Elections in May or June. No date decided as yet. But I'm sure the local vote-getting activities are soon to begin in earnest.

https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2015/10/08/local-councillors-wondering-if-anyone-needs-a-road-fixed-or-anything/

Chauncey Gardner

Friday 7th June voting day for Local and European Elections.

Friday 8th March Referendum on Family and Care

Newcomer Jim Beirne Fine Gael throws his hat in the ring for Sligo/Strandhill on the 7th June.

https://www.oceanfm.ie/2024/02/02/jim-beirne-to-contest-selection-convention-for-fine-gael-in-sligo-strandhill/

Chauncey Gardner

This should be interesting. James Conway confirms he will stand as Irish Freedom Party Candidate.

From memory, as an Independent he went a fair distance in the count at the 2020 elections.

https://www.oceanfm.ie/2024/02/07/were-no-racists-says-conway-as-he-declares-candidacy-for-irish-freedom-party/

Chauncey Gardner

Those interested in the recent enough history of Sligo Local Elections might wish to spend 20 minutes listening to this interesting and humorous podcast covering the 1982 Local Election manifesto for “Sligo Leitrim Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Constituents by Lying and Cheating Politicians” and again in 1987 and 1994 when the Party changed its name to “The All Night Party”.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7pn4AfTQBlY9BPWXmSbJEc?si=2N6i6wFaSYqslx0k3Cp8Yg

Chauncey Gardner

Aontú have announced Graham Monaghan as their local election candidate for the Sligo-Strandhill region.

A lot of new first-time candidates. Should be some interesting interviews on Ocean FM.

  https://www.oceanfm.ie/2024/04/02/aontu-announce-election-candidate-for-sligo-strandhill-area/

OpenAllHours

Glad to see a thread on this. Heres a list of candidates from what I can gather online. Errors and Omissions excepted!

Ballymote-Tubbercurry - 14 so far for 7 seats
FG: Martin Connolly, Patrick Cleary, Dara Mulvey, Gerard Mullaney
FF: Liam Brennan, Barry Gallagher, Keith Henry, Paul Taylor
SF: Jason Gorman, Jennifer Van Aswegen, Donal O'Connor
IND: Michael Clarke, Joe Queenan
IFP: James Conway

Don't see any big shocks here. FG could lose one to FF. Also be interesting to see where Baker FF seat goes to.

Sligo Drumcliffe - 8 so far for 5 seats
FG: Tom Fox, Thomas Walsh
FF: Edel McSharry, Donal Gilroy
SF: Thomas Healy
IND: Marie Casserly, Colm McGurran
IFP: Amanda Gallagher

Think it'll be the same 5 sitting ones elected. Internal FF battle will be great craic given the history.

Sligo Strandhill - 9 so far for 6 seats.
FG: Fergal Nealon
FF: Tom McSharry
SF: Arthur Gibbons, Pauline Donnelly
LAB: Nessa Cosgrove
AON: Graham Monaghan
PBP: Gino O'Boyle
IND: Declan Bree
Green: Johnny Gogan

The two retirements of the women Cllrs is disappointing from a gender balance option. FF could lose their second seat here but to who is the question.

Chauncey Gardner

Thats fab! I was just thinking that the final list must be nearly complete. It's going to be an interesting one for sure. It must have been real tough for Blaine Gaffney and Nessa Cosgrove in the last local elections, both came so so close. I think Nessa Cosgrove is again going to have a very strong vote, probably increased and she deserves it, to stick with her principles and to go back at it, good on her. Mighty. I'd put my dollar on her winning a seat.

OpenAllHours

Updates as per local media in Sligo Strandhill

Sligo Strandhill - 11 so far for 6 seats.
FG: Fergal Nealon
FF: Tom McSharry, Seamus Kilgannon
SF: Arthur Gibbons, Pauline Donnelly
LAB: Nessa Cosgrove
AON: Graham Monaghan
PBP: Gino O'Boyle
IND: Declan Bree, Diarmuid McConville
Green: Johnny Gogan

Chauncey Gardner

Is Jim Beirne still standing for FG in Sligo/Strandhill?

Chauncey Gardner

Some general stats from 2019 Local Eelctions for the full County.

Results by party[edit]

Party		Seats	±	1st pref	FPv%	±%
	Fine Gael	6	3	10,171	30.30	5.40
	Fianna Fáil	5	3	9,599	28.59	1.11
	Sinn Féin	2		2,752	8.20	2.10
	People Before Profit	1		1,332	3.97	1.37
	Inds. 4 Change	1	1	1,550	4.62	New
	Labour	0		470	1.40	2.70
	Renua	0		315	0.94	New
	Green	0		175	0.52	0.52
	United Left	0	1	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Independent	3		7,187	21.41	0.99
Total		18		33,571	100.00

Chauncey Gardner

and by area/candidate for 2019. Sligo/Strandhill

Results

Candidate / Party	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6
		Distribution of Miranda O’Donnell's 175 Votes	Distribution of Finbarr Filan's 320 Votes	Distribution of Declan Bree's Surplus of 131 Votes	Distribution of Jim McGarry's 506 Votes	Distribution of Nessa Cosgrove's 606 Votes
Declan Bree Independents 4 Change		-	-	-131	-	-
	1,348	1,348	1,348	1,217	1,217	1,217
Nessa Cosgrove The Labour Party		+67	+30	+16	+23	-606
	470	537	567	583	606	-
Finbarr Filan Renua Ireland		+5	-320	-	-	-
	315	320	-	-	-	-
Blaine Gaffney Fine Gael		+5	+32	+13	+45	+84
	921	926	958	971	1,016	1,100
Chris MacManus Sinn Féin		+10	+21	+24	+87	+67
	957	967	988	1,012	1,099	1,167
Tom MacSharry Fianna Fáil		+11	+72	+15	+92	-
	1,042	1,053	1,125	1,140	1,232	1,232
Sinead Maguire Fine Gael		+27	+34	+8	+38	+181
	915	942	976	984	1,022	1,203
Jim McGarry Non Party		+6	+25	+11	-506	-
	464	470	495	506	-	-
Gino O’Boyle Solidarity - People Before Profit		26	+19	+32	+85	+103
	899	925	944	976	1,061	1,164
Miranda O’Donnell Green Party		-175	-	-	-	-
	175	-	-	-	-	-
Rosaleen O’Grady Fianna Fáil		+5	+41	+12	+76	+72
	1,011	1,016	1,057	1,069	1,145	1,217

Chauncey Gardner

Sligo/Drumcliffe.

Candidate / Party	Count 1	Count 2	Count 3	Count 4	Count 5	Count 6	Count 7
	Number of Votes	Transfer of Whyte,   Votes and Result	Transfer of Gallagher, A's Votes and Result	Transfer of Gallagher, N's and McGurran, G's Votes and Result	Transfer of Healy, T's Surplus and Result	Transfer of Mc Loughlin, G's Votes and Result	Transfer of Casserly, M 's Surp lus and Result
Marie Casserly Non Party		+38	+39	+210	+44	+184	-177
	1,173	1,211	1,250	1,460	1,504	1,688	1,511
Tom Fox Fine Gael		+11	+11	+52	+4	+204	+55
	1,038	1,049	1,060	1,112	1,116	1,320	1,375
Amanda Gallagher Non Party Non Party		+10	-267	-	-	-	-
	257	267	-	-	-	-	-
Nigel Gallagher Solidarity - People Before Profit		+42	+16	-491	-	-	-
	433	475	491	-	-	-	-
Donal Gilroy Fianna Fáil		+4	+43	+113	+15	+84	-
	1,275	1,279	1,322	1,435	1,450	1,534	1,534
Thomas Healy Sinn Féin		+32	+35	+173	-99
	1,370	1,402	1,437	1,610	1,511	1,511	1,511
Seamus Kilgannon Fianna Fáil		+16	+23	+88	+11	+105	+49
	925	941	964	1,052	1,063	1,168	1,217
Colm Mc Gurran Fianna Fáil		+1	+15	-348	-	-	-
	332	333	348	-	-	-	-
Ciara McLoughlin Fine Gael		+17	+16	+53	+8	-934	-
	840	857	873	926	934	-	-
Thomas Walsh Fine Gael		+16	+16	+70	+17	+274	-
	1,220	1,236	1,252	1,322	1,339	1,613	1,613
Corey Whyte Independents 4 Change		-202	-	-	-	-	-
	202	-	-	-	-	-	-

Chauncey Gardner

Ballymote/Tubbercury. (Data wont copy over as easy).

Elected: Votes on First Count

Martin Baker FF 1,432

Michael Clarke Non-Party 1.564

Marin Connolly FG 1,011

Gerard Mullaney FG 1,523

Dara Mullvey FG 1, 497

Joe Queenan NP 1,737

Paul Taylor FF 1,886

Chauncey Gardner

Focusing on the Sligo-Strandhill area, lots of interesting angles. eg: Will the strong traditional MacManus SF vote transfer easily to Gibbons/Donnelly? Similarly, will the strong Rosaleen O'Grady vote transfer to FF candidates? Blaine Gaffney came so close, but I think his votes were not necessarily a FG vote and had a younger voter (i guess). Will Kilgannon retain the traditional FF vote? How will newcomers Monaghan (Aontu) and Beirne (FG) fare on the first count and transfers? Can Beirne rely on a traditional FG vote? The individual campaigns and impact on the doorstep will be the deciding factors in this election.

OpenAllHours

Beirne is not running so FG's eggs are all in Nealons basket and he will take a seat. Bree and O'Boyle will also be fine as will Tom McSharry. SF will get one seat most likely Arthur Gibbons but maybe he'll have to hand it back to Chris MacManus if he doesn't win an MEP seat.

So that leaves one seat less and I think it'll be between Kilgannon FF and Cosgrave LAB. Kilgannon has been in and out of the Council more often than the postman collecting the post so he will do well and living close to where O'Grady was won't do him any harm. On the other hand Cosgrave is a totally different option, a young woman who seems determined. It'll be a toss up between them and will greatly depend on where the votes below them go. Every one not mentioned but running will do well to see 300 votes each I would say.

OpenAllHours

In Ballymote/Tubbercurry the biggest talk in the election last time was the postal vote scandal but sure nothing came of it. The geographic size of the area is completely ridiculous. I think you'll see both Queenan and Clarke elected in West Sligo despite there being more challengers there. Apple Tax man Conway seems to have gone very quiet since his announcement into the field from the far right Irish Freedom Party and I don't see him featuring, yet ironically had he stayed Independent he may have, but he let his true colours show.

Mulvey and Mullaney are the most experienced FG Cllrs and will hold on so that's four of the seven filled. Taylor will hold his seat you would imagine given his poll topping performance last time and the only sitting Cllr for them. Then it's a case of who holds Bakers seat. Henry in Ballymote might stand the best chance given he went before and was a Cllr for a time.

So then its down to the last seat with probably Connolly FG, Gallagher FF and the strongest SF (whoever that is, sorry I'm not from this constituency) all in contention.

Haven't studied Drumcliffe closely enough to make a guess at it yet. Anyway it'll be getting busy from now.

Chauncey Gardner

@Open All Hours. Super analysis and commentary and you're probably be spot on. The FF vote for Kilgannon will be interesting, although I think the younger voters might not have the same loyalty as their seniors? So really, (in Sligo-Strandhill area) not too many surprises expected apart from Cosgrove being in with a good chance of getting a seat?

OpenAllHours

yeah I’d be thinking Cosgrave and Kilgannon fighting it out for the last there

Had a browse at Sligo/Drumcliffe over the weekend. I think you’ll see Casserly, Walsh, Fox and Healy in without too much fuss. The big question is Gilroy or McSharry. I don’t see any of the others really challenging and to be honest there’s very few declared anyway. What is it 8 for 5. There’s two seats south of Sligo town and at least two north of it. McSharry is the only one who can unseat any of the present crew but I don’t see FF getting two. I’d give her the nod only slightly against Gilroy. If he leaks any votes in North Sligo to Casserly he’ll be in danger of losing to McSharry.

duineeile

Drumcliffe will be interesting. T Walsh or M Casserly will top the poll

T Healy in big trouble, hasnt lifted a finger in Collooney and his misguided party loyalty in opposing Greenway Proposals will cost him dearly locally

duineeile

FF didnt want Gilroy, that was clear from the outcome of the convention. Mind you, there's many a person in North Sligo that dont want him either

OpenAllHours

Updated list for Sligo/Strandhill 12 for 6.

FG: Fergal Nealon
FF: Tom McSharry, Seamus Kilgannon
SF: Arthur Gibbons, Pauline Donnelly
LAB: Nessa Cosgrove
AON: Graham Monaghan
PBP: Gino O'Boyle
IND: Declan Bree, Finbarr Filan, Diarmuid McConville
Green: Johnny Gogan

shanec1928

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122029092#Comment_122029092

not a chance casserly will top the poll or will healy be in bother.

OpenAllHours

Updated Ballymote-Tubbercurry - 15 so far for 7 seats
FG: Martin Connolly, Patrick Cleary, Dara Mulvey, Gerard Mullaney
FF: Liam Brennan, Barry Gallagher, Keith Henry, Paul Taylor
SF: Jason Gorman, Jennifer Van Aswegen, Donal O'Connor
IND: Michael Clarke, Joe Queenan
IFP: James Conway
PBP: Emma Hendrick