Just what the doctor ordered: 'Fine Gael hold on two seats with comfort'
THE shadow of the late Joe Cody loomed large at the count centre for the local elections in Kilkenny at Cillin Hill on the city's Dublin Road last weekend. Without him, the Labour party floundered. The good news is that his brother Podge topped the poll in the Enniscorthy section of Wexford County Council
Langton's grub in Cillin Hill
The food was excellent at Cillin Hill for the two days of the counts in the local elections. Langton's, who have the franchise for the location was top class and the place was excellently run by Matt Quinlan and his excellent staff. No wonder it is proving so popular with the public during the week and at weekends.
Spat at by travellers
Was walking down the High Street and came across a car double parked on the double yellow line outside Supermac's. Because it took up so much of the footpath, I had to go on to the road. As I did one of the occupants of the car, a traveller, spat something out of her mouth and on to my trousers. The car then drove on. I know she did not mean to spit the material at me but it landed on my trousers and it wiped off fairly easily. But if you were double parked outside Supermac's for as long as they seemed to be, you would receive a parking ticket and rightly so.
Ger Cody
Nice touch at the Watergate Theatre on Tuesday of last week when Taoiseach, Brian Cowen was in the city on a pre-election walk-about.
He went into the theatre and was introduced to theatre manager Ger Cody who handed him a copy of his late brother Joe's book, The Stripy Men which Mr Cowen gratefully accepted as Dick Holland, another stalwart of the theatre looked on.
Fitzgerald's wake-up call
At exactly 7.30am on Friday, the day of the election, Insider's mobile phone received a text from 08388915000 on behalf of FG candidate, David Fitzgerald asking me to vote for him as a new voice with fresh thinking. Pity is, I don't have a vote in the Borough Council election. Anyway it worked, he got elected with ease and fair dues to him and wife Paula who put in a trojan effort.
Ita Crowley
Ita Crowley of Kells had double reason for celebration at the weekend. Her nephew Sean O'hArgain was re-elected to the Borough Council and more importantly her husband Dr Pat Crowley was elected to the County Council for the Callan area.
Terry Lyons
Terry Lyons is one of nature's gentlemen. For many years he was the face in the Newpark Hotel where he supervised many a great wedding, including my own. He saw many political shindigs over the years and if he were to spill the beans on what he saw and heard it would be a best seller. Anyway he retired quietly and with dignity from the hotel a few weeks ago and Insider felt it would be a pity if his departure was not recognised in some way. Thank you Terry.
Malcolm Noonan's midnight call
Have to hand it to excellent features writer Katharine Blake, campaign manager for Green Party candidate Malcolm Noonan. She was texting potential voters at midnight on Thursday-Friday for a "nicer-shinier planet" candidate and it worked.
Dixie Doyle - A gentle man
Dixie Doyle did the right thing by not seeking a re-count after he was narrowly beaten for the last seat in the Thomastown area by Sean Treacy of Fianna Fail on Sunday night. He took his beating well and his sons wished Sean well in the future after Dixie went home not feeling too well. He is facing surgery next week and we all wish him well.
Cost of McGuinness campaign
Does anyone know the real cost of the McGuinness campaign? All the posters, phone calls, and the vans and other vehicles with Andrew's picture on them. If you do, email insider at insider@kilkennypeople.ie
Mixed result for Reidy
It was a mixed election for the Reidy family. Joe was re-elected to Kilkenny borough Council on behalf of Fianna Fail on Sunday but brother Sean, running for the Greens did not get elected on the local council in New Ross or Wexford County Council.
Thank you to Michael Delahunty, Brian Tyrell and all the workers
There were numerous calls for the count to be speeded up at Cillin Hill at the weekend and as always the County Council staff did their best and ensured that, in the end, we got an accurate result. Despite what people think, Kilkenny was not the last place to get a result and finished mid-table of the 34 local authority count centres.
It can be shocking to have to wait for so long for a result but those working over the weekend have to have proper breaks under employment legislation, health and safety rules and in the interest of accuracy, to ensure mistakes are not made. It's easy to criticise when you have been waiting 10 or 12 hours for a result and no one can blame people for doing that but taking it out on officials is not the thing to do.
Cllr Paul Cuddihy (FG) is to have the matter raised at the next meeting of the County Council and Borough Council to see if a better and quicker method can be found to do the count and maybe ask officials to look at the Cork County Council elections where they seem to be really quick.
On behalf of the Kilkenny People team at the count, Sean Keane and Tess Felder, Insider would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who helped make the count an accurate one. To Brian Tyrell and his people at the Borough Council count, thank you and to Michael Delahunty and his workers at the five local area counts, thank you. Remember it is just as hard on those counting the votes as those watching.
Tom Molloy
Good to see former editor of the Kilkenny People, Tom Molloy, at the count centre in Cillin Hill at the weekend. He is making all the headlines in the business section of the Irish Independent at the moment. Well done Tom. His bylines appear regularly on the front page of that newspaper.
Maeve Butler
The facilities at Cillin Hill were excellent and the ease of access and the lay-out were superb. Parking was not a problem and the grub was great. Maeve Butler did a fabulous job and she deserves high praise for adding a touch of class and professionalism to Cillin Hill. The Hub at Cillin Hill is going from strength to strength and there seems to be a major event there most weekends.
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Weather for Kilkenny
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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