General Elections. The Constituency of Tipperary

Purple Mountain wrote: »

He's a Councillor and lord mayor in case you didn't notice?

I'm quite aware of this but why should that alter my view, what's your point?

Wrongway1985 wrote: »

However, this bluffer already ran in the Dail election to raise his profile, you should not be allowed contest the Seanad after being a recent general election reject but here we are.

It’s not Aherne’s fault the seanad and the system of electing it Is a sham. How is he any more of a ‘bluffer’ than Mattie or Martin Browne? Speaking to local chamber of commerce chair, the feedback is that Kelly is the best of them and Lowry helpful too. The other trio ain’t up to much.
Regarding rejection by the electorate, the Seanad appears to be a reward for failure. Aherne’s not alone in that.
The ‘panels’ are another joke. What’s Lynn Boylan doing one an agricultural panel .

Can’t believe people voted to maintain that Seanad. Last few times I spoiled my vote. Didn’t bother even voting this time.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

digzy wrote: »

It’s not Aherne’s fault the seanad and the system of electing it Is a sham. How is he any more of a ‘bluffer’ than Mattie or Martin Browne? Speaking to local chamber of commerce chair, the feedback is that Kelly is the best of them and Lowry helpful too. The other trio ain’t up to much.
Regarding rejection by the electorate, the Seanad appears to be a reward for failure. Aherne’s not alone in that.
The ‘panels’ are another joke. What’s Lynn Boylan doing one an agricultural panel .

Can’t believe people voted to maintain that Seanad. Last few times I spoiled my vote. Didn’t bother even voting this time.[/QUOTE]

Then your opinion doesn’t matter one jot.

Unfortunately you’re not sophisticated enough to understand the nuance of spoiling a vote.
I refuse to give a mandate to anyone in the Seanad.

https://unherd.com/2019/12/why-im-going-to-spoil-my-ballot/


https://votingcounts.org.uk/spoilt-ballot

Have a read of those for yourself and you might learn something

Who did you vote for?

darragh o meara wrote: »

I seen some posts online suggesting that Darren Ryan will be co-opted into Aherns place on the council and possibly Mayor until June/July. Anyone have anymore info on this? I’m pretty sure he didnt run for the council last time and is/was a Labour politician. Can’t figure it out tbh.

It will be a Fine Gael seat. Someone from their Clonmel branch.

touts wrote: »

It will be a Fine Gael seat. Someone from their Clonmel branch.

That’s what I was thinking myself but politics is a strange ole game.

I kind of feel sorry for anyone that voted for Ahern in the local elections thinking he would stick out the term and make their vote actually worth something.

darragh o meara wrote: »

That’s what I was thinking myself but politics is a strange ole game.

I kind of feel sorry for anyone that voted for Ahern in the local elections thinking he would stick out the term and make their vote actually worth something.

I’d imagine anyone who voted for him locally would be happy that he’s moved up the greasy pole.

Does anybody know what he’s been at for the last 20 years since he left secondary school? Has he a third level qualification, or a profession ? All I’ve heard was that he’s been Simon coveneys chauffeur!

digzy wrote: »

As per my previous posts on the matter, spoiling my vote is by way of protest. I know it’s pretty pointless but I’m not giving a mandate to the Seanad.

Can you give any examples of how the oversight of the Seanad has been needed in the last 2 Dail terms?

Re Lowry, I’m aware of what he’s done and what he is, but I don’t blame anyone who feels he can provide assistance to them in terms of a chamber of commerce or a schools group seeking deis status to name two examples in west tipp.

Shane Ross judicial bill only passed due to changes implemented thanks to seanad.
If you see seanad as pointless you are far better off not voting at all then spoiling the vote
I want tds who will act in the national interest. If I want something done on a local level I'll get a councillor to do it. Lowry doesnt participate to any degree in natio al politics which isnt good enough

digzy wrote: »

I’ve a feeling Mary Ann hasn’t a Seanad vote!!!

Strange, then I guess by her own admission her opinion doesn't matter one jot.

digzy wrote: »

Does anybody know what he’s been at for the last 20 years since he left secondary school? Has he a third level qualification, or a profession ? All I’ve heard was that he’s been Simon coveneys chauffeur!

Full time party hack I understand. There are plenty of jobs to be handed out when you are in government. Lots of "drivers" and "researchers" and stuff like that.

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The counting of votes in the contest to fill the Clonmel Borough Council seat left vacant by Garret Ahearn upon his election to the Seanad has taken place today, and Fine Gael’s John Fitzgerald has won the seat.

Mr Fitzgerald, the brother of Cllr Michael Fitzgerald defeated Paudie Ahearn – Senator Ahearn’s brother by a vote of 57 to 36 by a section of party members.

It is traditionally the case that should a relation of the departing council member indicate their wish to fill that seat, it would not be contested.

The contest that led to today’s result defied that tradition.

Is that the John Fitzgerald of dougan Fitzgerald auctioneers?

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The counting of votes in the contest to fill the Clonmel Borough Council seat left vacant by Garret Ahearn upon his election to the Seanad has taken place today, and Fine Gael’s John Fitzgerald has won the seat.

Mr Fitzgerald, the brother of Cllr Michael Fitzgerald defeated Paudie Ahearn – Senator Ahearn’s brother by a vote of 57 to 36 by a section of party members.

It is traditionally the case that should a relation of the departing council member indicate their wish to fill that seat, it would not be contested.

The contest that led to today’s result defied that tradition.

What do you stand for. "I'm your man's brother".

And what do you stand for. "I'm the other man's brother".

Fcuk me! It's no wonder Sinn Fein are cleaning up.

Another 5 years with no one representing Tipperary at the top table of Irish government. And another 5 years with no one representing Tipperary at the kids table either. But we've no one but ourselves to blame. When you look at the quality we elect it's hardly surprising. Cahill is the only government TD and most of the time it's hard to know if he is dead or alive (even if he is in the room with you). We've been asset stripped of services and resources and I fear that will continue as long as we waste our votes on independents and knuckle draggers.

touts wrote: »

Another 5 years with no one representing Tipperary at the top table of Irish government. And another 5 years with no one representing Tipperary at the kids table either. But we've no one but ourselves to blame. When you look at the quality we elect it's hardly surprising. Cahill is the only government TD and most of the time it's hard to know if he is dead or alive (even if he is in the room with you). We've been asset stripped of services and resources and I fear that will continue as long as we waste our votes on independents and knuckle draggers.

If this Government lasts 5 years I will be astounded, not a chance.

The notion that a vote for an independent is a wasted vote is exactly what's wrong with the entire political landscape in Ireland.

mahoney_j wrote: »

We have 2 very fine tds although not part of govt in Alan Kelly and Mike lowry we have 2 very vocal snd intelegent people.cahill ,Martin brown etc have nothing to offer only sound bites

Lowry isnt a fine td though. How much does he actually contribute up in leinster house?
Can we say much on Mahoney considering hes been a td 5 months and for so much of that time the dail wasnt sitting...

I wasn't surprised Cahill was not appointed to a role. He has zero profile in the county let alone nationally. I suspect he is quite happy where he is.

As for Browne. God help us. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. It didn't matter who the candidate was there was a vote for Sinn Fein that swept him into a role I think he barely even knew he was running for let alone anyone else knowing he was running.

Lowry is utterly unsuitable to high office and if you want to know why look up one of the tribunals following his last stint in high office.

It wasnt me123 wrote: »

Michael Lowry is not a fine TD, he is a criminal and we are a laughing stock electing criminals as our respresentatives.

Martin Browne was elected on the back of the SF vote.

Jackie Cahill is an absent TD - too busy running his farm and I've never seen him in Clonmel, the county town.

Alan Kelly barely beat Seamus Healy in and we then have Mattie McGrath.

Gerald Ahearne wasn't elected so they co-opt him for the Seanad. The Seanad is a joke, we all should vote for the Senators and it should be on the same day as the general election and then the unelected TDs couldn't be dumped on us by the political parties.

Don’t recall lowry been convicted of anything rest bar Kelly id agree I’m from north tipp and wouldn’t of been a fan in the past but he has put in huge work in last few years ,first data in nenagh ,hydro plant in Silvermines ,replacement factory in old P&G site nationally his work for cervical cancer etc and now he is leader of the Labour Party he could be /is the most important td we have in tipp

History Queen wrote: »

Kelly hasn't delivered the hydro plant yet although he is fond of talking about it. Can't argue with the rest of what you said about him though.

Lots going on in background as regards tests etc still very much going ahead , in m living in that area

mahoney_j wrote: »

Presume it was Martin brown you were referring to in second paragraph ,he got in solely because he was the only sf candidate tuning not because he was an outstanding candidate ,he lost his town council seat over a year ago heard him on tipp fm a few times on one occasion he was insisting on the govt just going and getting. Back the 13 billion he thinks apple owe us clearly dosnt understand that situation .if Seamie Morris was a sf member still none of us would know who Martin brown is

yes meant Browne. Possibly right on Morris.

mahoney_j wrote: »

Don’t recall lowry been convicted of anything rest bar Kelly id agree I’m from north tipp and wouldn’t of been a fan in the past but he has put in huge work in last few years ,first data in nenagh ,hydro plant in Silvermines ,replacement factory in old P&G site nationally his work for cervical cancer etc and now he is leader of the Labour Party he could be /is the most important td we have in tipp

Lowry may not have been convicted in court but tribunal findings and what everyone knows anyway. Hes dodgy as ..... .
Kelly is by distance most important td in the county

Water John wrote: »

Well it's better to be used for pumped hydro rather than as a national dump, as promoted years ago.

Absolutely. I'm for the project. It's just the fears over the lead levels in the soil and what disturing the soil in that area by developing on it could do that is the concern. As well as the potential for more mine shaft collapses.

mahoney_j wrote: »

As I said before I’m from the area and also farming there so know more than I ever wanted to about lead in soil etc this project is back up on the hill the lead problem is back down below the village from a lead perspective I’d have no worries there the shafts are also below the proposed site .
Hopefully this gets the go ahead and the whole area is tidied up

There are shafts alongside the site also. Lead is an issue along by Garryard area too. Caused issues in 2018. Anyway ironing out these issues is all part of the process. Will be great for village and surrounding area if it gets the green light.

Lowry is the Trump of Tipperary. He could shoot someone on the main street of Thurles and still top the poll in North Tipp.

Mattie will run for at least one more term. Mairin isn't ready to replace him yet. He is hugely popular in South Tipp and as really the only TD active in the south he will hold his seat (yes I know Browne is based in the South but that's where "active" comes in. He barely registers a heartbeat).

SF will keep the seat but I hear they plan a "running mate" for Browne which in reality is to replace Browne who they are more than slightly embarrassed by. SF could have run a dead donkey and still taken a seat with the momentum behind them. Browne pretty much proved that. There are a number of local SF people eyeing the seat but HQ have picked a "celeb" candidate (i.e. in Tipp that means an All Ireland Winner). Healy is still hanging in there but is a beaten man.

Agree Kelly is probably safe. Being a party leader will give him the profile to keep going. FF recruiting and running a Labour Nenagh candidate in Farrell didn't dislodge him so nothing will.

Cahill is in serious trouble and his seat is in play. This is the battle that is interesting. FG and specifically Gareth Aherne have targeted his seat. With Kate O'Connell's sister now effectively gone from politics (their local organisation have made it clear to HQ that they will not tolerate any more candidates being parachuted in) that means the vote won't be split and Aherne will have a clear run at Cahill. FF may try to respond by only running Cahill as a single candidate also as the three candidate strategy has failed (Goldsboro failed to come across well on the doorsteps in a very clear example that using a photo-shopped image from 20 years ago for your posters is a risky strategy when you also plan to go out and meet people and Farrell couldn't rally enough support in the local FF party being as she was a Labour candidate). Ambrose is still the obvious candidate from the south in a two candidate strategy but in many ways she is a busted flush as Mattie has her base wrapped up. Smith Jr is still holding out hope of inheriting his daddy's seat but even his daddy has given up on him at this stage. Plus he gave some media interviews where he came across as a spoilt child after losing the nomination so that's him done. So it is likely to be Cahill and some no hope Cllr from the south (possibly Ambrose) who unfortunately won't attract enough votes to transfer to him to allow him beat Aherne.

So it looks like Lowry, McGrath, Kelly, The SF hurler and Aherne.

Liamo57 wrote: »

Jesus, thats some choice above. Cutehoorism is very much alive and well in Tipp.

Why did you quote the first post?
Yes Lowry, Mattie arent great
Browne is non existent. Who would you want in their place?