COUNCIL PROFILE/SLIGO:FIANNA FÁIL candidates in Co Sligo did the unthinkable at the last local election when they bucked the national trend by winning an extra seat, at a time when the party was savaged around the country.
Nobody is anticipating a repeat performance.
In recent weeks, 100,000 leaflets headed “No cancer services, no votes” have been distributed throughout the northwest urging people to vote against the Government parties which have sanctioned the transfer of the breast cancer unit from Sligo General Hospital.
The leaflets are prominently displayed in front windows in hundreds of housing estates, the psychological equivalent of an angry guard dog for FF canvassers.
“When we see the leaflets we still call to the door because they would say we were cowards if we didn’t,” said north Sligo councillor Seamus Kilgannon who, having canvassed for the party for 30 years, has never experienced such hostility. “We have two problems in Sligo – the cancer services and the economy.”
Other councillors reported that constituents are “gripped by fear” because of job losses, levy increases and rumours of further cutbacks.
A director of election for Fianna Fáil in Sligo/north Leitrim for 10 years, Mr Kilgannon scraped home in the six-seater Drumcliffe electoral area with just 40 votes to spare in 2004 and is one of three sitting party councillors (along with current council chairman Jude Devins and Patsy Barry) fighting to hold on there.
It will be a tough battle with current mayor of Sligo, Labour’s Veronica Cawley, certain to hold her seat . Fine Gael’s Joe Leonard is a former poll-topper but his party is running four candidates, at least one too many to maximise their chances. Sinn Féin’s Arthur Gibbons is also regarded as a strong candidate there.
The biggest Fianna Fáil casualty is expected to be in the four-seat Tubbercurry area where either Jerry Lundy or Aidan Colleary will lose out. Fine Gael hopes to return two veterans there (including Gerry Murray who was first elected in 1967), while Independent councillor Margaret Gormley will race home.
Another big battle is looming for Fianna Fáil in Ballymote where the latest to enter the fray is Ballymote-based Matthew Scanlon, son of local TD Eamon Scanlon. The party is hoping that previous poll-topper Martin Baker will carry Scanlon over the line but given the predominant mood he will have a tough battle for the last seat with Independent candidate Tim Mulcahy and Sinn Féin’s Thomas Healy.
Fine Gael’s Gerard Mullaney will romp home but despite the national swing his party colleague Pat McGrath is not as safe.
A fierce battle is also on the cards in the Sligo/Strandhill area where nine experienced councillors, including two from the borough council, are chasing seven seats. Fianna Fáil has two and may change personnel rather than lose a seat. Dead certs are Tony McLoughlin (FG), Sinn Féin’s only sitting county councillor Seán MacManus and Independent councillor Declan Bree. Imelda Henry (FG) and Jim McGarry (Lab) are also expected to make it.
An extra seat is up for grabs in Dromore and Fine Gael has its name on at least two of the four there. Joe Queenan of Fianna Fáil hopes to hang on to his and the battle for the final seat will be between Labour’s Alwyn Love and Fine Gael’s Darragh Mulvey, a brother-in-law of Deputy John Perry.
Nine of the 12 outgoing members of Sligo Borough Council are not only seeking re-election but are also contesting the county council poll. Fianna Fáil has another big headache there following the decision by Tom MacSharry, a nephew of former minister Ray, to withdraw from the race.
