This article is from page 6 of the 2012-11-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
ALTHOUGH the 2014 local election is a year and a half away, the last ever mayor of Kilrush is already being tipped as Fianna Fáil’s most likely candidate from the town.
Independent councillor Paul Moroney is understood to be an early favourite among the party leadership, ahead of serving party members on the town council, to run in the crucial election.
It is accepted that with the dissolution of Kilrush Town Council, the town will need to elect a strong councillor to a new-look county council made up of four electoral areas.
There are currently three Fianna Fáil members serving on the town council, including former county councillor Tom Prendeville.
On Saturday last, Cllr Moroney attended a Fianna Fáil social gathering in Shannon and sat with party leader Michéal Martin at the top table.
The well-got councillor, who topped the poll in the town council election, said he has not fully made up his mind if he will run in the county council election as an independent councillor or otherwise.
“I haven’t been asked to run yet,” he told The Clare People , but admitted he would not be surprised if he were formally approached by Fianna Fáil in the future.
The father of three comes from a strong Fianna Fáil family and was first elected to the council in 2009 as an independent candidate.
The boundaries for the new Clare local electoral areas will not be published until March, but parties are already strategising about finding strong candidates in the main urban areas – Ennis, Shannon and Kilrush.
Fine Gael introduced new blood to Kilrush Town Council in 2009 in the form of councillors Liam Williams and Ian Lynch, both of whom are considered strong contenders should they put their names forward for the new county council election.
Cllr Moroney could have one slight advantage, however, as he will, if he is nominated and selected, enter the race as the last every mayor of Kilrush.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil are concentrating on finding a strong candidate in the Shannon urban area. Mr Martin was in the town on Friday to rally the troops as they attempt what many consider a political impossibility – to find a potential Fianna Fáil councillor in an urban area that traditionally votes for Labour, Sinn Féin and left wing independents.
Labour is also going to face challenges as it attempts to translate its strong Shannon Town Council holding to a county council seat in a new smaller council.