This article is from page 20 of the 2013-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
THE only name coming from Kilkee Town Council as a possible contender for the county council election in 2014 is that of Paddy Collins (FG).
Cllr Collins is leaving his final decision until the boundary commission has decided the new electoral areas.
“On a personal level, it depends on legislation in March regarding the size of the districts. It looks like it would be impossible if seats are reduced and the constituency goes up as far as Ballyvaughan. I would need possibly 4,000 votes and there ain’t 4,000 votes back here,” he said.
In Kilrush, councillors Liam Williams (FG), Paul Moroney (Ind), and Tom Prendeville (FF) are likely contenders but again the boundary commission is reducing any commitment.
“I am not prepared to commit. I have an interest but it will depend on the boundary commission,” said Cllr Williams.
Cllr Prendeville said, “I will take all matters into consideration – my family, the people of Kilrush and the boundary commission. If it is favourable, I will stand.”
Cllr Moroney said his family are still young so he would have to take that into consideration. The inde- pendent councillor added that he has already been approached by two parties to run, a fact that he is also taking into consideration.
The boundary issue also proved contentious in Ennis, with Cllr Peter Considine (FF) leaving his decision until it reports.
For other councillors, the decision is more straight-forward. They will not be running in the county election.
Kilrush councillor Tom Clyne (Ind) had already decided to retire after serving 10 years on the council, but others were forced to make the decision.
In Kilkee, Mayor Clare Haugh (FF) said she enjoyed her 27 and a half years on the town council to date, but would not be contesting the county elections.
“I hope I have made a contribution to Kilkee,” she said.
Cllr PJ Lardner (FF) said “There’s enough of them there. I prefer working for the community of Kilkee as I have done since ‘94. Maybe 15 years ago but it’s a no for now anyway.”
Cllr Lily Marrinan-Sullivan (Ind) came to the realisation that being a county councillor to a vastly increased area would be a full-time job.
“I hadn’t even thought about it. I’m still hoping they’ll save the town council. I would have to say no. Well, I have a full-time job and I’m not in a position to give all my time, which is what you would have to do,” she said.
Cllr Elaine Haugh-Hayes (FG) has other priorities at the moment.
“No, not me anyway. I have no intention. I have a new baby so I’m a little busy at the moment,” she said.
In Kilrush, it was disillusionment with politics in general that will help former mayor of Kilrush, Liam O’Looney (FF), to leave the world of politics behind after the next local election.
He said, however, that the town council would be missed when it is gone.
“If I never went, I would like to see a council there.”