As anger grows at government cutbacks, particularly in education, the political mood in the county suggests that many will take out their frustrations in next year’s local elections. Add to this a host of retirements and the scene could be set for a number of election shocks in the Castlebar electoral area.
Labour’s Harry Barrett would certainly be one to watch in this situation. Barrett has worked hard to push himself into Mayo’s political landscape and has the ability to take seats at both town and county level.
Despite being narrowly defeated in 2004, he has been more vocal on county issues than the majority of county councillors over the years and has, on many occasions, highlighted problems with medical cards, class sizes and Garda numbers in Mayo by using parliamentary questions, asked on his behalf.
In 2005, he was the first to provide the proof that Garda numbers in Mayo were at their lowest since 1997. And in one remarkable situation, in 2006, Barrett was able to get Mayo County Council to agree to provide tankers of clean drinking water to a village that had had a contaminated supply for decades, despite the best efforts of local TDs.
It is no secret that Barrett has drawn heavily on the experience of outgoing Councillor Johnny Mee. Indeed, many in Castlebar have remarked on the similarity of styles that both men share. On the canvas, both seem to be in their element and Barrett is gaining a reputation for the people skills that ensured that Mee was elected time and time again.
If it is the case - and it seems increasingly so - that Barrett will be Labour’s only candidate for the county, then many in the Castlebar electoral area will be very anxious that Labour hold that seat.
Cllr Mee has for years been the voice of the left in Mayo politics. The greater good was Cllr Mee’s business, and many within groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities and indeed core Labour supporters will not want the seat to fall to Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. I feel that Barrett will gain substantially in this regard. He will be seen now as Mee’s natural successor and will, no doubt, bring his own style to any council chamber.
The first steps in this process seem to have been put in place. Cllr Mee has recently announced his intention to step down from Castlebar Town Council and Barrett will soon be co-opted to take his place. This is a significant move and will signal a changing of the guard within the Labour Party in Castlebar. Cllr Mee’s endorsement will be invaluable to Barrett coming into the local elections and will add to the theory that he could be the dark horse for a Mayo County Council seat as well.
However, he faces stiff opposition from the larger parties. Fianna Fáil in particular will have their own ideas as to where Cllr Mee’s seat should end up and will now be planning a strategy to undo Barrett’s plans. He will face electoral machines from both parties that could threaten to swamp his chances for both seats.
This could be Barrett’s Achilles heel if it is not planned for. He needs to get the strongest possible team around him now and work on his campaign must start immediately. The current political climate will work in his favour and I’m sure by next April or May he will be inundated with offers of help.
Barrett can be the shock result in the Castlebar electoral area. Eamonn Gilmore is riding high in the polls. The ability is there, he has the endorsement of a political legend and just as important, he has the political wind behind him.
