As the chase for seats in the Oranmore electoral area hots up, it has emerged that a battle royale will ensue for the third and fourth seats in that area.
Claregalway man Malachy Noone is said to be canvassing very well in the area and analysts feel he is in with a very strong chance of taking a seat along with sitting councillors Jarlath McDonagh and Jim Cuddy while the Oranmore end of the area is proving extremely competitive with four local candidates in a narrow area all competing for number ones.
Mr Noone is well known throughout the area for his involvement in community and youth activities, the No Name Club and the Compantas Lir drama group, but this is his first foray into electoral politics.
Two of the sitting councillors are also expected to have a strong backing in tomorrow’s poll.
“Jim Cuddy and Jarlath McDonagh seem to have great support in their respective areas and although they won't want me saying this, are well placed to retain their seats, said one local analyst.
“Malachy Noone's honest to goodness approach to canvassing has won him a legion of fans over the course of the canvass.
“He knows the area like the back of his hand and genuinely seems to be a doer and not just a talker. As a local, he is very well known and well liked across Claregalway, Turloughmore, and even as far over as Annaghdown. He is certainly not a one-topic candidate, and he has already won over many voters with his honest and empathic style of canvassing. He will certainly be in the shake-up for the third or fourth seat in the area,” he said, adding that the fight for votes in Claregalway should be fascinating.
“Josette Farrell who was very vocal on the Claregalway bypass issue is also a contender but she is not so well known outside Claregalway, while the performance of Eamon Fox will be interesting, as his profile and involvement in local matters is not very high so far,” he said.
“When you put Cuddy, Farrell, Noone, and Fox into the mix, the battle for votes will be one of the most fascinating aspects of Saturday’s count,” he said.
In the Oranmore end, Fine Gael's Michael Eames is drawing on the organised machine of his wife Senator Fidelma Healy Eames’ election machine to put himself in with a strong shout, but will face a strong battle for votes with Liam Carroll and Labour's Enda O'Rourke, while Dolores Kilroe is also expected to poll well for a debutant candidate.
'The chase for votes in the villages of Oranmore and Maree should be very interesting as there are some very strong personalities who will undoubtedly clash. Nobody in this wing of the electoral area will like to lose. I think there will be a rumble in the jungle when the Oranmore votes are counted on Saturday,” he said.
