*Páraic McMahon, Brian Meaney, Kieran Burke and Michelle O’Connell during recording at The Temple Gate Hotel.
THERE WAS SO much debate on the Ennis Municipal District episode of The Electoral Chair that we’ve had to split it into two parts.
For part one we took a look at the candidates in the ring vying to win the seven seats on the Ennis MD.
The Temple Gate Hotel is the setting for episode three of The Electoral Chair, our political podcast exclusive to subscribers of The Clare Echo.
Joining Páraic McMahon are Michelle O’Connell (IND) of Save Ennis Town and a business person in the town, former Green Party councillor and four-time Dáil candidate Brian Meaney (GP) and Kieran Burke (SF) a member of Tommy Guilfoyle’s canvassing team.
Areas covered in the Ennis MD are the town of Ennis, Kilnamona, Toonagh, Barefield, Spancilhill, Clooney, Doora and Clarecastle.
Confirmed candidates in the Ennis MD include the following;
- Cllr Pat Daly (FF)
- Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF)
- Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF)
- Cllr Mary Howard (FG)
- Cllr Paul Murphy (FG)
- Tommy Guilfoyle (SF)
- Antoinette Bashua Baker (FF)
- Hilary Tonge (SD)
- Bridget Ginnity (GP)
- Amanda Major (IND)
On this week’s agenda:
- Cllr Johnny Flynn’s (FG) decision to bow out of the political arena
- Will sitting councillors who are on the Board of Ennis 2040 DAC take a hit
- Why Save Ennis Town haven’t put forward a designated candidate
- Sinn Féin missing a trick by not running more candidates in Ennis
- Questions over Sinn Féin’s nomination process
- Controversial comments
- Little feedback from elected members on issues impacting on businesses
- Fianna Fáil making a crowded field by running four in Ennis MD
- Decision on GMA is done to benefit certain councillors
- Hermitage & Cloughleigh vote up for grabs
- Faith of Cllr Mary Howard’s (FG) supporters questioned
- Strategic mistake for Fine Gael in not co-opting a candidate for Cllr Flynn
- What a Green such as Bridget Ginnity (GP) needs to do to get elected
- Amanda Major’s (IND) bid to be a more reflective voice
- Social Democrats will be stronger with Hilary Tonge (SD) but are they strong enough
- Transfers will be very hard to predict in the Ennis MD
