This article is from page 7 of the 2014-05-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
KILLALOE is the only local election constituency in the Republic of Ireland without a Sinn Fein candidate. The Sinn Fein party in Clare confirmed on Wednesday afternoon there would be no party nominee for the new electoral area of Killaloe, despite rumblings from head office that a name would be added.
At the close of nominations at noon on Saturday, there was no Sinn Fein candidate registered in this electoral area, the only one south of the border without a candidate from the party.
Mike McKee will contest the election in the Shannon area, Noeleen Moran in the West Clare area and Cathal O’Reilly in the Ennis area in Clare.
And while Sinn Fein has a constituency without a candidate, the new party Fís Nua is doubling up on constituencies by running one Clare man in two elections.
Former chairperson of the Green Party in Clare Damon Matthew Wise is to contest the Clare local election in Ennis for Fís Nua while also nominated to run as a European Election candidate for the party in the Dublin Area.
Asked about his decision to contest two elections so geographically apart he said he was running in Ennis to support his party colleague Vera Moloney.
“As you know I am a disability advocate and campaigner across the island of Ireland, and indeed had five different nominations [originally],” he said.
Fís Nua will now contest four seats in the Clare local elections – two in Ennis Mr Wise and Ms Moloney, one in Shannon – Karen Christine Wise and one in Killaloe – Niamh O’Brien.
“Fís Nua had five voting members in East Clare (Killaloe area) in November 2013, and has been joined by four members in Shannon, with a further 16 members having joined or moved from GPI/CG in East Clare (Killaloe), Shannon and Ennis – giving enough members for functioning local area groups for each,” said Mr Wise.