Ballyhaunis Blog

Mayo County Council 2009 Election Results - Claremorris Area

See National Summary of results here
Only one Fianna Fail candidate manged to get elected in the now 6 seater Claremorris area - and sitting FF councillors Pat Mchugh and Michael Carty lost their places.
They will not leave empty handed though - because councillors are now entitled to a tax free golden handshake of €3300 per year of service if they lose their seat . That means Pat Mchugh will be getting a lump sum of around €70000 euro. Michael Carty will get about €13000 euro.
Even if a councillor chooses not to stand - they would still get the payout. The lump sum can be kept - even if they stand for election again and get re-elected next time. It is a strange country isn’t it? Redundancy pay for a job that you can go back to!
These payouts are taken from a 10 million euro fund set aside by the government.
(That 10 million could have paid for the cervical cancer vaccinations twice - it also equals the cost of subsidies for elderly people to secure their homes against burglary, which was abolished by the Fianna Fail led government this year)
So - there will be mixed emotions in Mayo - and all over Ireland today as losing candidates await these large payouts. Some of them have well paid jobs to fall back on - which they can now spend more time on - which may not be a bad thing in some cases.

Claremorris Electoral Area - After 5 counts (Final Count)

Quota 2113 NP = No Party

O’Brien Patsy FG 2760 - Elected
Finn Richard NP 2219 - Elected
Cribben John FG 2141 - Elected
Ryan Damien FF 2118 - Elected
Connolly Tom FG 2021 - Elected
Burke Michael FG 1999 - Elected

Carty Michael FF 1766 - Eliminated
Walsh Harry NP 1294 - Eliminated
McHugh Pat FF 1107 - Eliminated
McHale Gerard FF 691 - Eliminated

More Local Election News 2009

The man with probably the worst election poster came 11th in his constituency with a total vote after transfers of 1252 - beating a Labour candidate a Green pary candidate and 3 other independents. Mind you - one of those was that nutter Noel O’Gara - so that doesn’t count (surprisingly Noel O Gara got 45 first preference votes - he is the man who wants planning rules abolished so that we can all build whatever we want on land we own.)
See that bad poster here:

http://ballyhaunis.blogs.ie/2007/05/04/election-posters-john-bracken/

Last remaining seats in Galway West have been filled by PD candidate Noel Grealish and FF’s Frank Fahy.
The result means that there is no change in the constituency’s representation after Eamon O Cuiv(FF), Michael D Higgins (Labour) and Padraic McCormack(FG) took the first three.
What is wrong with the people of Galway? They can’t drink the water before boiling - and it has been like that for months - and they keep all their Tds in power. Why no protest vote? Was there any alternative? Do people care or are they stupid?

Overall - nationwide - if the predictions on the final figures become reality, Fianna Fail will end up with 78 seats. Fine Gael will get 51, Labour 20 or 21, the Greens 6; Sinn Fein 3 or 4, the PDs 2 and the Independents 5.

This final tally of figures opens up a number of potential combinations in order to make up the 83 seats required for a majority in the next Dail.

That means Fianna Fail could form a government with the support of two PDs, two Independents and the expected support of the Ceann Comhairle, who in this case is Fianna Fail TD Rory O’Hanlon.

Alternatively Fianna Fail could simply line up with Labour where the combined total of seats would be 98 or 99.

On the other hand Fianna Fail could enter government with the six Green Party deputies, bringing the total to 84.

I will vote for two parties led by Mayo men tomorrow - not because they are from Mayo - but because together - Labour and Fine Gael can hopefully create a new government in Ireland that will help reverse some of the Fianna Fail policies that have helped the rich and not the ordinary people of Ireland. In my experience Fianna Fail elected members have a problem with telling the truth - some of them anyway - the leader included. Ten years is enough. Vote Labour and Fine Gael tomorrow .

I noticed that the ads for Beverly Flynn in the local press have the words Vote For Flynn - in large writing - with the letter F in “For” and “Flynn” lined up vertically and in bold print so they stand out - showing FF clearly. What a con - I suppose there are still some people who will think she is Fianna Fail and vote for her. She will probably vote for Fianna Fail in the Dail if she gets in - they probaly only expelled her so they would be seen to do the right thing.

Peter Enright - Green Party candidate in Mayo has not got his picture on any of the posters I have seen in and around Ballyhaunis or Claremorris. I wonder why?
Maybe John Bracken in Laois - Offaly should have done the same thing.

Yes - two budgies (LIVE) were found in a massive search of Portlaoise prison - here in Ireland - as well as numerous mobile phones, alcohol, Tvs drugs and syringes. You have to laugh - or else you’d cry…or vote for someone who might actually do something about criminals in Ireland.
Budgies !! How did no one hear them? How did they not see them? Of course it makes you wonder who is in control in the prisons. Remember that story a couple of years ago about Chinese takeaways been ordered in for prisoners in Castlerea? Is it threats or is it bribery that lets these prisoners do what they want?
But Budgies……?? It was the first time in ages I laughed out loud at the news.
Maybe it was the first time ever?

Click to enlarge
I suppose the election posters around Ballyhaunis are not too bad - but this candidate in Laois Offaly must be one of the least camera friendly I have seen. Some people thought it was Pat Shortt doing a joke poster. To top it all - he’s an auctioneer as well - an occupation that has gained a bad reputation recently.
Actually - his policies sound quite interesting and worth looking at if you are from that area. His ideas for the health system make sense - but as an lone independent he will have a hard time getting changes made.

Home Address:
47 Moy Heights,
Ballina,
Co. Mayo

Home Phone:
096 71935

Constituency Office Address:
Pearse St
Ballina
Co Mayo

Tel: 096 79613
Fax: 096 70636
Website:
http://www.michellemulherin.finegael.ie