Grassroots

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Now it’s down to the real business
The shouting is over, posters have been stashed away and now it’s down to the real business for the next five years for Mayo’s councils. And it’s going to be a tough five years for our councillors. For the truth of the matter is that there is no money in the cashbox.

The shouting is over, posters have been stashed away and now it’s down to the real business for the next five years for Mayo’s councils. And it’s going to be a tough five years for our councillors. For the truth of the matter is that there is no money in the cashbox.

New Cathaoirleach of Westport requests cut in his allowance

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Fine Gael Councillor Myles Staunton accepted the chain of office on Monday night making him Westport’s new first citizen, with one of his first duties as Cathaoirleach asking that a 20 per cent deduction be made in the Cathaoirleach’s allowance as a symbol reflecting the current economic struggles. The councillor also noted a number of enterprising proposals which he hopes to implement during his term in office which will benefit the town of Westport.

FG dramatically lose out after two Independents do ‘deal’ with FF

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Fine Gael’s outstanding performance at the polls did little to keep them in line for honours around the table at Ballina Town Council on Monday night, after a Fianna Fáil pact with two Independents elevated Independent Cllr Mary Kelly to the Mayoral office.

No Mayoral allowance cut for Kilcoyne who says people deserve to be paid for their labour

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

Sometimes controversial, always outspoken and Castlebar’s most popular councillor Michael Kilcoyne will be the man behind the Mayoral chain in the county town for the coming year after he signed a pact with Fine Gael to ensure their control over the local authority following the local elections.

There was an element of surprise when poll topper Kilcoyne was chosen over Labour Cllr Harry Barrett to form the pact, but it is probably fitting that the man who won every ballot box in the town bar two and who sucked up 20 per cent of the vote, should wear the chain of office for a term. In terms of the county council votes, there wasn’t a box from Tourmakeady to Lahardane that Kilcoyne hadn’t a vote in - testament to the reputation he has built as a hard worker and straight talker.

Abusers do not deserve the cloak of anonymity says Flynn

Fri, Jun 19, 2009

The file on the Ryan report cannot be closed until the guilty are brought to justice and made face the full rigours of the law for their abuse and neglect, Beverley Flynn TD has said.

High drama as Mellett comes back at the death

Fri, Jun 12, 2009

There was high drama in Castlebar as night was turning into day when the fourth count of the Swinford area pulled Joe Mellett, the Cathaoirleach of the last term of the previous council, back from the death. From early in the afternoon when the first tallies were done it was looking like Mellett was going to lose out to Fianna Fáil's first time candidate Michael Smyth.

Claremorris Electoral Area – Poor Fianna Fáil strategy saw two sitting councillors lose out in Clare

Fri, Jun 12, 2009

Total poll: 14,949
Valid poll: 14,785

Sinn Féin takes Tim Quinn’s seat in Belmullet

Fri, Jun 12, 2009

The tricolour was held high in the Ruby Room of the TF Royal Theatre on Sunday after the last Belmullet electoral area seat was taken by Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway Walsh. This resulted in the loss of outgoing Fianna Fáil councillor Tim Quinn’s seat. He topped the polls in 2004 with first preference votes, while against the county trend Fine Gael failed to secure the three seats which it was contending.