First off Grassroots would like to congratulate Seamus Pattison and Brian Cody on the unique honour that was bestowed upon them last weekend when they were made Freemen of Kilkenny City.
They are both worthy recipients of the honour, and have brought nothing but distinction to their native city. A thoroughly good night was had by all in the Castle last Saturday as all present were regaled by great stories from all those who spoke.
In politics Seamus Pattison achieved an immense amount for his constituents in a career in public life that stretched over 48 years. Brian Cody was a gifted hurler himself in his day, and now has set down the benchmark for modern day inter-county hurling managers.
Fair play too, to our mayor, Pat the Baker. He pulled off a bit of a coup in landing the city’s freedom for the two men, and also didn’t let the chance pass to have a cut at his fellow councillors who voted down the opportunity to award Seamus Pattison the freedom of the city last year. You’d have to wonder after last weekend why Pat is bowing out of public life, but maybe he still has an eye on the county council election.
Back to matters of a more political nature, in particular, of a local political nature. All the parties locally are gearing up towards next June’s Local and European elections. Candidates have already been selected by some of the parities in some of the electoral areas, but there seems to be a sense of caginess about the two big parties in getting their candidates into the field. The Thomastown electoral area is a good example. Only the Greens have officially selected yet, although Labour’s choice is obvious with two sitting members. The position of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is much less clear.
The Thomastown area has been reduced, form the last election, from a five to a four seat constituency. Both the big two hold only one seat each and their normal approach would have been to run three candidates each in the area. Now with less numbers serious rows look inevitable within both parties. To complicate matters further the big two’s sitting councillors are in the north of the area, Clara and Bennettsbridge respectively. This leaves the two towns in the area, Thomastown and Graiguenamanagh both looking to have candidates from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael but with both parties almost certain to pick just two runners. Three into two won’t go in either case!
And what about our latest public opinion polls? Three in a row now showing Fine Gael ahead of Fianna Fáil with Labour doing well too and the Greens holding their own. What will be the impact of these figures on our own local elections in Carlow and Kilkenny next June? If current trends continue, or even nearly continue, we can expect to see fewer Fianna Fáil councillors around the place from the middle of next year. But polls are only polls!
On the Carlow front there are scarcely any candidates nominated by any parties yet. It’s a real cat and mouse game. The new boundaries have produced a lot of headaches for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour. A lot of talks surround where sitting councillors will be standing, particularly for Labour. And all of this doesn’t even mention what will happen to the constituency’s sole PD representative, Walter Lacey and what party, if any, he will line out for. Grassroots thinks Walter may well go independent this time around, with his local popularity and record of achievement sure to stand him in good steed come election time.
