Michael Commins
CASTLEBAR councillor, Michael Kilcoyne, has hinted that he may field a running mate in the Town Council election in June, 2009. If both were to prove successful, it would greatly increase Kilcoyne’s bargaining power on the Council.
In June 2004, Kilcoyne secured in the region of 650 first preference votes, the highest ever recorded by a candidate in the history of the Town Council (formerly the Urban District Council). He had a surplus of 180 votes over the quota.
“The situation that prevails in Castlebar Town Council is that Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour operate as a bloc. They join together on nearly everything. The rest of us are kept out of the loop.
“I am seriously considering fielding another candidate so that we could have a right go at taking two seats at the next election. It would mean me urging many of my supporters to transfer their first preference vote to my colleague. But if we were both successful, it could bring about major changes in the Council,” he said.
Cllr Kilcoyne is also focussing ahead on his challenge for a seat on Mayo County Council next June 12 months. He was pipped for the final seat by Cllr Johnny Mee (Labour) three years ago, losing by just 56 votes.
“The County Council will also be a major focus for me next time out. A lot of people from not only the Castlebar town and electoral area attend my regular Saturday clinic in Thomas Street but many from various parts of the county come seeking help and advice. Social welfare problems, consumer affairs issues, work difficulties, processing applications forms and making representation on their behalf, it’s amazing the complexity of issues out there. A lot of people are currently being hounded by the Department of Social Affairs.
“I will be extending my clinic to other areas around the Castlebar Electoral Area in a few months’ time. There is such a demand for the service. There is a lot of political planning ahead and I will be keeping a close eye on developments,” said Cllr Kilcoyne.
