This article is from page 8 of the 2009-04-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
WITH just six weeks to polling day it is believed that Fianna Fail are preparing to enter another candi- date into the race for a seat on Clare County Council.
The party’s headquarters are ex- pected to ratify Shannon pharmacist Shane Hillery as a candidate for the newly expanded Shannon electoral area.
With a strong local political pedi- gree, the son of outgoing town coun- cillor and former county councillor Sean Hillery, it is hoped that the father of two will get the nod from headquarters.
Mr Hillery spent his early life in Sixmulebridge before moving to Shannon and opening his own phar- macy in the Shannon Shopping Cen- tre 18 years ago.
Although his current address is out- side the electoral area, Fianna Fail are hoping his strong business pres- ence in Shannon and the strong fam- TUNA et-bo elem ADU MEoLO1ED Roam O0losO0 MEN Olomoy.@0 0:1 seat in the six seater area.
Married to Ennis woman Valerie Normoyle they have two children.
While Fianna Fail is considering entering a new candidate into the lo- cal election race, the party has lost its MEP candidate for the North West area.
In what was a shock to many, sitting MEP Sean O Neachtain announced his intention not to run for re-elec- tion on Raidio na Gaeltachta, having
being ratified by the party in Mayo just week’s ago.
On Sunday former European Par- liament President Pat Cox launched the election campaign of Independ- ent Marian Harkin MEP.
“Times were too serious, and the stakes too high, to allow policy myths to displace or replace policy substance in public debate during the European Parliament Election,’ he said.
Meanwhile Republican Sinn Féin is considering running a candidate in the North Clare area, having origi- nally considered a candidate for En- nis West.
The party will meet on Thursday night to consider putting forward a candidate for the county council elections.
It is believed well-known member Paddy Kenneally is to consider run- ning for the party in the new five-seat
area.
The Crusheen man said, “The ap- palling treatment that Clare has suf- fered at the hands of the Fianna Fail and Green coalition must be raised with the local election candidates on doorsteps throughout the county.”