Meath/Kildare By-Elections

Gael

Nothing here so far, so here goes.

Two by-elections in Meath and North Kildare.
One in Meath to fill seat vacated by former Taoiseach John Bruton who was appointed EU embassador to the US. One in North Kildare is to fill seat vacated by ex-Finance Minister Charlie MacCreevey after he was appointed an EU commisioner.

Although they're only happening in two constitencies, they're very high profile votes, as they are going to be seen as tests of government popularity since the disastrous local elections last June. No sitting Irish government has won a by-election since the early eighties.

Both very significant seats in terms of morale for FF/FG.
Losing John Bruton's seat to FF would be a major blow for FG and would mean that four out of five Dáil seats in Meath will be held by FF.
Losing McCreavey's seat in Kildare would be very bad blow for FF.

A voting pact has been declared between FG/Labour. The Greens are still remaining aloof of such an agreement. But it will still be a strong indication of the strength of a possible potential alternative government to FF/PD in 2007.

Poll takes place this Friday the 11th of March.

A Dub in Glasgo

I wish I could say that Joe Reilly has a good chance in Meath but.....

Anyway, I think it would be pretty sad if FF held 4 seats out of 5 in Meath

A Dub in Glasgo

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

Anyway, I think it would be pretty sad if FF held 4 seats out of 5 in Meath

Actually, theres speculation that Kildare north may end up the only Dáil constituency with no FF t.d
Would that be the first time ever?

Dub are you a Sinn Féin supporter? I'd never have known

A Dub in Glasgo

Earthman wrote:

Dub are you a Sinn Féin supporter? I'd never have known

If I was allowed to vote (like most other EU countries )...... probably. I think Joe Reilly would be a good TD for Meath (much better than some anonymous brown noser for the government).

Gael

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

I wish I could say that Joe Reilly has a good chance in Meath but.....

Anyway, I think it would be pretty sad if FF held 4 seats out of 5 in Meath

Joe Reilly will poll well but he's not going to win a seat in first-past-the-post by-election situation.
Meath is going to be cut into two new constituencies in 2007 because of population growth - Meath West and Meath East.
Joe Reilly is highly likely to get a seat in the new Meath West three seater in 2007, since his highest concentration of support will nearly all be pooled in that new constituency.

You mean single transferable vote there dont you Gael? not first past the post?

ie pr

oscarBravo

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

I think Joe Reilly would be a good TD for Meath

Why?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

much better than some anonymous brown noser for the government

How many anonymous brown nosers for the government are running for election, and how do they remain anonymous on the ballot paper?

Gael

Earthman wrote:

You mean single transferable vote there dont you Gael? not first past the post?

ie pr

Well officially it's the PR system used in a general election. But since there is only one seat for the winning, it's first past the post for all practical purposes. I know there may be a limited amount of transfers from the lowest candidates, but there will be only on winner, as there is in first-past-the-post.

Dinner

Earthman wrote:

Actually, theres speculation that Kildare north may end up the only Dáil constituency with no FF t.d

I'm not sure if it would be the first time evr or not but I thing Aine Brady will keep FF out here, it'd be a shame after so long. I've only met a few of the politicians and Aine has been the (personally speaking) nicest of them.

A Dub in Glasgo

oscarBravo wrote:

Why?

Because I think he would be good for Meath and better than the other candidates.... Eh what do you think?

How many anonymous brown nosers for the government are running for election, and how do they remain anonymous on the ballot paper?

Cassells obviously. You really are disappointing in your attempt at slagging :rolleyes:

BuffyBot

I suspect Paddy McNamara might just clinch the Kildare North seat.

Gael

oscarBravo wrote:

Why? How many anonymous brown nosers for the government are running for election, and how do they remain anonymous on the ballot paper?

I presume he means the FF candidate, Shane Cassells and the PD candidate Sirena Cambell.

A Dub in Glasgo

Campbell does not stand a chance

Gael

The really odd thing about Kildare North is that there is no SF candidate. So allresources are going into Meath. The Ard-Fheis took Joe Reilly away from Navan on the last weekend before the poll. Not a good way to be.

Squaletto

Gael wrote:

The really odd thing about Kildare North is that there is no SF candidate. So allresources are going into Meath. The Ard-Fheis took Joe Reilly away from Navan on the last weekend before the poll. Not a good way to be.

Good point there but there is reason to believe that most of Meath were glued to Adams' speech on TV thereby SF was on the minds of many a voter at the weekend. Go Joe go.

Aris Antony!

Roisin Dubh

Gael wrote:

Both very significant seats in terms of morale for FF/FG.
Losing John Bruton's seat to FF would be a major blow for FG and would mean that four out of five Dáil seats in Meath will be held by FF.
Losing McCreavey's seat in Kildare would be very bad blow for FF.

Not necessarily. The Govt lost every single by-election in their first term and went on the win the General Election.

Also, no Govt has won a by-election for 21 years.

Gael

Roisin Dubh wrote:

Not necessarily. The Govt lost every single by-election in their first term and went on the win the General Election.

Also, no Govt has won a by-election for 21 years.

Yes I stated that in my original post. :rolleyes: And my point was that it's not any seat, it's the seat of a high ranking Minister(until he was moved). It is more significant to lose those type of seats than some anonymous backbencher seat.

Gael

Squaletto wrote:

Good point there but there is reason to believe that most of Meath were glued to Adams' speech on TV thereby SF was on the minds of many a voter at the weekend. Go Joe go.

Aris Antony!

The Gerry Adams popularity magic has taken a beating recently. Joe would be better to emphasise his local work as a councillor at the moment, than emphasising the fact of being one of Gerry's understudies.

Roisin Dubh

Gael wrote:

Yes I stated that in my original post. :rolleyes: And my point was that it's not any seat, it's the seat of a high ranking Minister(until he was moved). It is more significant to lose those type of seats than some anonymous backbencher seat.

No I still feel the principle applies.

Also, I could be argued that that actually makes it harder for a Government to hold a seat since whatever candidate is parachuted in will pale in the former seatholder's political shadow.

Gael

Well it depends on the situation. Brady is in a very uneviable position, since she's not well known and is under a lot of pressure to keepa FF seat. But FF could have taken that seat a lot easier if Charlie McCreevey Jr.had been prepared to run. Ditto for Matt Bruton. The whole dynasty thing count counts for a lot(unfortunately)

Time Magazine

Matt Bruton is one of the most boring individuals in the world. Had a pint with him a few times.

In fact, he could create a "The Most Boring Man, Ever!" CD and it wouldn't sell at all.

Gael

How do you know him?

Time Magazine

I'm in YFG.


But ssssshhusssshh

mycroft

How do you know him?

And this is is the core qualification of why you find the discussion of politics on boards.ie frustrated.

The term "all politics are local", can frankly be cubed by any real political observer in ireland.

Simply put because of the small insular state of our nation combined with a delusional nature of a importance on a global scale we've developed two politica arenas.

Look at the by election. The traffic problems of a feeder county of dublin, become a national issue, not just because the candiate want to highlight it, but also because of a scariesty of regional news.

Most TDs are elected on the "Mrs O dwyer's driveway" vote, the vote that implies a community that a TD can get things sorted in a local community, get trees planted. One needs only to look at the desperate approach waterford had adopted to Micheal Martin, the rampant praise, despite his track record, in his local community, because of the power of td and the infulence a td can hold in his local community.

The majority of people on boards.ie are fed up with local politics I can remember the highlight of the PD member who canvased for Liz O Donnell outside my parents house when I was eligable for my first vote, I told him I was voting green and the best argument he offered was "The green party TD was the worst representive this area has ever recieved" I mean theres negative campaigning and theres just slagging. In the End I liked O'Donnell and through gritted teeth I watched her make several public stands on several issues, and finally about a few years afterwards I met her and said "seriously how can anyone with ethics work with the pds, and she gave me a smile"

The point of this rambling ancedote is this, the majority of us, I think are fed up with "Mrs O Dwyers tarmac politics from our tds, while are CCs are screwing us on bin tax and land rezoning. We need to seperate local politics and national politics, and stop expecting a TD to stand a round at his local as part of campaigning as a ordinary part of campaigning.

Once we try and diferentate, you'll get a lil more action and a lil else conversation.

Gael

Angry Banana wrote:

I'm in YFG.


But ssssshhusssshh

I see. Well I think he intends to run in Meath in the long term.

Gael

mycroft wrote:

And this is is the core qualification of why you find the discussion of politics on boards.ie frustrated.

The term "all politics are local", can frankly be cubed by any real political observer in ireland.

Simply put because of the small insular state of our nation combined with a delusional nature of a importance on a global scale we've developed two politica arenas.

Look at the by election. The traffic problems of a feeder county of dublin, become a national issue, not just because the candiate want to highlight it, but also because of a scariesty of regional news.

Most TDs are elected on the "Mrs O dwyer's driveway" vote, the vote that implies a community that a TD can get things sorted in a local community, get trees planted. One needs only to look at the desperate approach waterford had adopted to Micheal Martin, the rampant praise, despite his track record, in his local community, because of the power of td and the infulence a td can hold in his local community.

The majority of people on boards.ie are fed up with local politics I can remember the highlight of the PD member who canvased for Liz O Donnell outside my parents house when I was eligable for my first vote, I told him I was voting green and the best argument he offered was "The green party TD was the worst representive this area has ever recieved" I mean theres negative campaigning and theres just slagging. In the End I liked O'Donnell and through gritted teeth I watched her make several public stands on several issues, and finally about a few years afterwards I met her and said "seriously how can anyone with ethics work with the pds, and she gave me a smile"

The point of this rambling ancedote is this, the majority of us, I think are fed up with "Mrs O Dwyers tarmac politics from our tds, while are CCs are screwing us on bin tax and land rezoning. We need to seperate local politics and national politics, and stop expecting a TD to stand a round at his local as part of campaigning as a ordinary part of campaigning.

Once we try and diferentate, you'll get a lil more action and a lil else conversation.

You make some very good points that I agree with. But don't be so sure that Ireland alone is like this politically.
The American politician Tip O'Neill stated that "All politics is local"

SkepticOne

mycroft wrote:

The point of this rambling ancedote is this, the majority of us, I think are fed up with "Mrs O Dwyers tarmac politics from our tds, while are CCs are screwing us on bin tax and land rezoning. We need to seperate local politics and national politics, and stop expecting a TD to stand a round at his local as part of campaigning as a ordinary part of campaigning.

Once we try and diferentate, you'll get a lil more action and a lil else conversation.

The problem here, I think, is the multi-seat constituencies. People, if they want something done, will play one TD against another until they get what they want. It makes far more sense than going to the appropriate county councilor since, if there is a refusal, where else can they go? The TDs therefore compete with one another on local infrastructure issues when their job is supposed to be representing local areas on national and legislative issues. Very few people would think to approach a CC these days on issues about pot-holes and street lighting.

Time Magazine

Gael wrote:

I see. Well I think he intends to run in Meath in the long term.

Good for him. He's a nice, genuine guy. I'm sure he'd make a good politician. Wouldn't exactly beg him to come to my party though.

I presume you know him via NUIM channels. He pops round my part of the university world now and again too. I'd give him a vote, if he was in our constituency.

Villain

Any Chance of adding a pool to this thread Mods? We haven't had one in a while.

I think the lack of infrastructure in Sallins and Clane will be the main voting point for most people in kildare, houses have been thrown up everywhere but no extra schools have been provided. The bad planning of FF is producing alot of issues in Kildare and Meath.

Gael

Seems we've had our first election "infamous incident"


Minister apologises for swearing at farmer




Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan has apologised for swearing at a farmer during a heated exchange while canvassing in Co Meath.

The apology followed newspaper reports yesterday that Ms Coughlan told a farmer to "f*** off" during a visit to his farm at Ardrath on the Meath/Dublin border.

However, the Minister's version of events are at odds with those of the farmer, Michael Dunican, a prominent farmer and former captain of the Meath county football team during the late 1950s and 1960s.

In a statement yesterday Ms Coughlan confirmed an incident had occurred. "On arrival in the yard this man seemed very upset by events relating to a herd test," she said.

"This had taken place earlier in the week. Very early in the conversation he became more upset, raising his voice and becoming very aggressive. I apologise for any bad language that slipped out in a situation of my feeling very threatened."

She also praised her Garda driver for "dealing with the situation expeditiously".

Ms Coughlan said she had asked her officials to examine any issues arising from the test.

Telephone callers to Mr Dunican's home yesterday were told he was not available and was away.

However, in an interview with the Sunday Independent, the farmer who said he was a lifelong Fianna Fáil supporter, claimed Ms Coughlan swore at him several times after he had raised a number of agricultural issues, and the Punchestown event centre.

"Then I asked her if she knew what the difference was between liquid milk [ production] and creamery milk," he is reported to have said. "She asked me if I thought she didn't know. I said back to her if she knew it then she could explain it. Then she replied: 'Would you ever f*** off.' Then she said it again and again."

mycroft

Gael wrote:

You make some very good points that I agree with. But don't be so sure that Ireland alone is like this politically.
The American politician Tip O'Neill stated that "All politics is local"

I'm aware of the quote.

But people expect there TD to sort out problems that are more the CC remit. Planting of trees on roads, planning permission etc.

We take our local politics to an absurd level

oscarBravo

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

Because I think he would be good for Meath and better than the other candidates.... Eh what do you think?

I don't know anything about the man. You said he'd be good for the constituency. I asked why. You said because he'd be good for the constituency.

Hell, sign me up, I'm convinced.

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

Cassells obviously.

Ah, an anonymous candidate with a name.

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

You really are disappointing in your attempt at slagging

Who's slagging? You're promoting a candidate on the grounds that, um, well, he'd be good. You're dissing another candidate on the grounds that he's an anonymous brown-noser.

Way to debate the issues.

gom

I was in Naas and Maynooth at the weekend canvasing with Paddy MacNamara for Labour. I would say that he is definitely in there with a bit of luck. I think that Fergal Scully might be his only opposition. I agree that Catherine Murphy is top of the opinion poll and Gerry Browne is polling well. Both of these candiadates are Labour independents. Catherine was in the party until resently and will likely vote with Labour in the Dail on most National issues. Gerry didn't get the nomination and is running as "Independent Labour". Now thats a large amount of support for Labour.

It is my believe that the independent/localism politics is making a well deserved decline in Ireland. I think that Catherine Murphy will not get the largest first preferences and infact FG's Fergal Scully just might get teh most first preferences. But I think the transfers from the independent labour candiadates will get Paddy MacNamara in. He is highly liked and topped the poll in the local elections. He definitly has the majority of Naas votes from what I can see.

As for the electoral system in a by election. It is the most representiative.
PR, with the Single-transferible vote. Unlike the mismatch of Multi-Candiadate Constituancies with PR. Basically the transfers will continue until a candiadate reachs the quota or all other candiadates are eliminated.

Expect large spoils.

A Dub in Glasgo

oscarBravo wrote:

I don't know anything about the man. You said he'd be good for the constituency. I asked why. You said because he'd be good for the constituency.

Hell, sign me up, I'm convinced.

To be perfectly honest, I don't give a flying duck if you do not find out why Joe Reilly will be good for the constituency from me. Another one of these click the finger moments eh?

I am not here to sign anyone so unless you intend to find out what the candidates are offering, you are going to find it pretty tough to vote in the Meath constituency.

Ah, an anonymous candidate with a name.

Who's slagging? You're promoting a candidate on the grounds that, um, well, he'd be good.

You're dissing another candidate on the grounds that he's an anonymous brown-noser.

Way to debate the issues.

Cassells has a bright future in Politics ahead of him but he is an anonymous figure to the people I know in the Meath consituency. Maybe he is not anonymous to the people you know in Meath? He is effectively on the fast track programme within FF and for that he will go along with everything Bertie tells him to. A good backbench TD who will not question his leader - It is my opinion that the country can do without another one of those.

I offered an opinion(not a debating paper) that a 4th FF seat in Meath would not be a good thing. I also offered an opinion (not promoting) that Joe Reilly would be good for the constituecy.

I am not here to get you to vote for Joe Reilly and if putting forward a debating paper is now a pre-requisite for contributing to threads on boards, the vast majority of people here will be fcuked.

You have 2 posts in this thread and you have not even offered an opinion (not a debating paper) on either of the 2 by-elections. You seem more pre-occupied with gamesmanship.

D'Peoples Voice

mycroft wrote:

And this is is the core qualification of why you find the discussion of politics on boards.ie frustrated.

The term "all politics are local", can frankly be cubed by any real political observer in ireland.

Simply put because of the small insular state of our nation combined with a delusional nature of a importance on a global scale we've developed two politica arenas.

Most TDs are elected on the "Mrs O dwyer's driveway" vote, the vote that implies a community that a TD can get things sorted in a local community, get trees planted. One needs only to look at the desperate approach waterford had adopted to Micheal Martin, the rampant praise, despite his track record, in his local community, because of the power of td and the infulence a td can hold in his local community.

Once we try and diferentate, you'll get a lil more action and a lil else conversation.

Very true, but one of the reasons for this is that central government were reluctant to give back to local government over the years. Now with the dual mandate gone, that is, someone can't be a member of both local and central government, I think more power will be given to local government. :rolleyes:

However I would add, that many local authorities/governments have not helped themselves by creating nightmares for central government. :eek: you only have to look at carrickmines, hill of tara, to name only two cases, here central government gave money to the NRA who then passed it onto the local authorities to pay architects to draw up the route. And we know the cost of those mistakes.

It will take time, but as the population grows in the various areas, central government will begin to realise that a 1-size-fits-all in terms of laws may not work, and the local authority will be given the power to selctively impose laws. the classic example would be the new speed limits, which are to be set by local government. another example was the 9 oclock watershed for kids in pubs etc.

As for a Sinn Fein candidate for Kildare, can't see this happening.
Don't know their recent policies, but in the 1997 election, my interpretations of their policies was that they proposed to increase corporation tax whilst reducing personal taxation. They also wanted to increase waste charges on industry and charge individual households nothing, thereby creating no incentive for individual households to cutback on their waste. They also want the same model applied to water charges.
Hence, cripple industry with charges and allow individuals pay less tax. Kildare as we know is home to big American IT companies who came MAINLY BECAUSE OF OUR TAX STATUS, increasing taxes on them would cause them to consider leaving. Are the people in kildare going to vote for policies whch may cause them to loose their jobs. As for Meath West, I'm at a loss with regards to the number of big multinationals there

oscarBravo

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

To be perfectly honest, I don't give a flying duck if you do not find out why Joe Reilly will be good for the constituency from me. Another one of these click the finger moments eh?

My my, aren't we defensive. Why bother expressing an opinion if you're not prepared to back it up?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

I am not here to sign anyone so unless you intend to find out what the candidates are offering, you are going to find it pretty tough to vote in the Meath constituency.

Being a registered voter in Mayo, I'd find it pretty tough anyway.

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

Cassells has a bright future in Politics ahead of him but he is an anonymous figure to the people I know in the Meath consituency. Maybe he is not anonymous to the people you know in Meath?

Where I come from, anonymous means "without a name". Even allowing for a figurative interpretation of the word, I find it hard to reconcile the concept of "anonymous" with "bright future in politics".

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

He is effectively on the fast track programme within FF and for that he will go along with everything Bertie tells him to.

How do you know?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

A good backbench TD who will not question his leader - It is my opinion that the country can do without another one of those.

What TD would you hold up instead as a role model of rebellion?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

I offered an opinion(not a debating paper) that a 4th FF seat in Meath would not be a good thing. I also offered an opinion (not promoting) that Joe Reilly would be good for the constituecy.

...and I asked you the basis for those opinions. Why is that such a problem for you?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

I am not here to get you to vote for Joe Reilly and if putting forward a debating paper is now a pre-requisite for contributing to threads on boards, the vast majority of people here will be fcuked.

Who said anything about prerequisites for contributing?

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

You have 2 posts in this thread and you have not even offered an opinion (not a debating paper) on either of the 2 by-elections. You seem more pre-occupied with gamesmanship.

Right now the most interesting thing about this thread for me is how upset you seem to be at being asked a straightforward question.

A Dub in Glasgo

oscarBravo wrote:

My my, aren't we defensive. Why bother expressing an opinion if you're not prepared to back it up? Being a registered voter in Mayo, I'd find it pretty tough anyway. Where I come from, anonymous means "without a name". Even allowing for a figurative interpretation of the word, I find it hard to reconcile the concept of "anonymous" with "bright future in politics". How do you know? What TD would you hold up instead as a role model of rebellion? ...and I asked you the basis for those opinions. Why is that such a problem for you? Who said anything about prerequisites for contributing? Right now the most interesting thing about this thread for me is how upset you seem to be at being asked a straightforward question.

I have bigger fish to fry (so to speak) so you will have to wait for your little games.

Sponge Bob

Gael wrote:

However, the Minister's version of events are at odds with those of the farmer, Michael Dunican, a prominent farmer and former captain of the Meath county football team during the late 1950s and 1960s.

And as you noted earlier in this thread "All Politics is Local" and a Golden rule of same in Ireland is 'Never Offend the GAA'

At least they won't trouble Mary by making her canvass in Meath in the miserable could again .

upmeath

I watched Q&A tonight, and I have to say that Shane Cassells wears red lipstick and brown nosepaint. He speaks with no conviction, I can't believe how well he remembered and recited what FF PR had told him to say prior to the show. He speaks like a nervous schoolboy, and he and Sirena Campbell are no-hopers. They used their 30 second slot at the end to say what, exactly? Im in a government party, we've two years left, get me in there so I can get used to the Dail bar??!!?? O Gogain didnt seem to have a lot to say for a man who complained for lack of media coverage. Joe Reilly seems a puppet too. Hannigan or McEntee, folks? A man with a background knowledge in planning and infrastructure is exactly what Meath needs at present, with rail links, motorways, toll roads, unfinished housing estates, communities without schools, playing fields or hospitals and incineration plans are bound to affect Meath

Time Magazine

gom wrote:

Fergal Scully

gom wrote:

FG's Fergal Scully

Graham, his name is Darren.

gerrydublin

upmeath wrote:

I watched Q&A tonight, A man with a background knowledge in planning and infrastructure is exactly what Meath needs at present, with rail links, motorways, toll roads, unfinished housing estates, communities without schools, playing fields or hospitals and incineration plans are bound to affect Meath

rail links - any new route/ design is decided by Iarnrod Eireann or the RPA in association with local government not central government. As said earlier central government only provide the finance to these agencies!

motorways, toll roads- again any new route/ design is decided by NRA in association with local government and perhaps NSC but not central government. As said earlier central government only provide the finance to these agencies!

unfinished housing estates- that's between local government and the builder

communities without schools - that's between local government and the Dept of Education. Central government only agree the annual budget for the each dept.

playing fields - that's local government, perhaps some assistance from Dept of Environment, either way central government only agree the annual budget for the each dept.

hospitals - that's local government and dept of health, again central government only agree funding for the dept each year.

incineration plans - that's local government, part of their waste mangement plans

so why the hell is this man running for central government and not local government?

Gael

upmeath wrote:

Hannigan or McEntee, folks? A man with a background knowledge in planning and infrastructure is exactly what Meath needs at present, with rail links, motorways, toll roads, unfinished housing estates, communities without schools, playing fields or hospitals and incineration plans are bound to affect Meath

You don't need to be an engineer to realise that you shouldn't be building hundreds of housing estates all over a county, without providing the adequate infrastructure for the extras thousands of people who will occupy them. It's about plain cop on.
To be quite honesty I'm not convinced of Mary Hanafin's ability to deal with the problems of the education system just on the basis of here background as a teacher.
Anyway, engineers are the people who do the practical work on the ground, they don't do the planning and the political level is where the planning happens. My Da's a Civil Engineer with a PhD and he doesn't know squat about social planning. All he wants to know is "Where do I pour the concrete?"

Mr.Nice Guy

Would anyone like to stick their neck out at this late stage and say who they think will take seats?

Badabing

i'll go indepeandant in Kildare and Shane cassells ff in Meath, apparantly ff have giving up hope on Kildare and don't want labour or fg winning the seat so will push for the indepentant candidate, can't remember the name.

jank

FF will win neither too mcuh anti-gov feeling at the mo but come 2007 general election i can see the same two parties in power

Now go figure!

Dinner

Badabing wrote:

i'll go indepeandant in Kildare and Shane cassells ff in Meath, apparantly ff have giving up hope on Kildare and don't want labour or fg winning the seat so will push for the indepentant candidate, can't remember the name.

I think Murphy and Walsh are the only 2 independants in Kildare.

Badabing

Yeah thats right catherine murphy, i think she is now favourite to win

Dinner

But her and McNamara are the only 2 that I havent seen campaigning around where I am. The rest ahve been around but I havent spotted either of them. Maybe I just missed them though. I still hold hope for Brady

Gael

Mr.Nice Guy wrote:

Would anyone like to stick their neck out at this late stage and say who they think will take seats?

In Meath, Cassells(FF) will probably get the highest number of first preferences, but I think Shane MacEntee(FG) will get it on the basis of anti-FF transfers.

I reckon it could be the same situation in Kildare North, though the independent there is very strong so she could be a good bet.

I'm more confident of my Meath prediction.

Badabing

Also if Shane Cassells wins ff will have 4/5 tds in meath and cause nightmares for the party come the genral election.

Gael

There will be an extra seat in 2007 though(i.e. two three seater constituencies) although yes it will still be very hard to keep four seats.