This article is from page 4 of the 2009-11-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
THE Labour Party in Clare has ex- perienced a resurgence, as those frustrated by the political incumbent flock to the left.
A new branch of the party has been set up in Ennistymon, with the Shan- non branch expanding by 15 new members. The Ennis branch has also seen its numbers multiply.
While Labour is usually associated with the more urban areas of Clare,
rural areas are now developing branches and joining the fold.
Talks are to begin in the com- ing weeks in Kilrush with a view to forming a Labour branch for the west.
In the last number of weeks the branch in Ennis has expanded, with new members joining the party from throughout the county and lapsed members returning to the fold.
Clare County Councillor Paschal FitzGerald attributes the growing
success of the party to its leader, Eamon Gilmore TD, who is consist- ently the most popular party leader HOMO semereleuN Ame
“We plan to make the party bigger in Clare again. It is great to see peo- ple taking the initiative. I am getting calls from people from all over the county, many are interested in join- ing and many more are just interest- ed in helping out,” he said.
Secretary of the Clare Labour Party, Seamus Ryan believes that the
move towards the Labour Party sig- nals disillusionment with society and politics among the general public.
‘People recognise that Fianna Fail has let them down and there is a lack of leadership from that party,’ he Sr ntGe
‘People now feel if ordinary peo- ple don’t come out and make a stand then this cycle is going to continue.”
Labour in Clare is now planning to capitalise on the unpopularity of the Government parties and re-launched its constituency organisation at a meeting in the West County Hotel last week.
Chaired by Limerick TD Jan O’Sullivan, members from through- out the county attended to hear the message that Labour has a his- toric opportunity to make electoral progress in the next general election.
Labour has branches in Ennis, Shannon, Ennistymon and Parteen and members say it is ready to con- test the next election in every district in Clare.
The last Clare Labour TD was Dr Moosajee Bhamjee. The outspoken consultant psychiatrist was elected to the Dail in 1992.
In the local elections last June, the Labour Party retained one county council seat, two seats on Shannon Town Council and secured a seat on Ennis Town Council.