This follows the decision last week of former FF councillor, Ann Blackmore, to run as an independent candidate in the Piltown Electoral Area following the refusal of the selection committee from headquarters to put her name on the ticket following her interview.

Now, two other party stalwarts (former councillors) are consulting with the people in their areas before making a final decision. If they were to run as independents, it would put the party in Kilkenny on a crisis footing and lead to even more electoral losses.

However, Insider is thinking back to 10 years ago when Cllr Dixie Doyle of Thomastown ran as an independent after he was to quote himself; "stabbed in the back by the party (FF) he served for 20 years" when he was unsuccessful in the Thomastown area convention of the party after serving as chairman of the branch.

Since being elected he has voted with Fianna Fáil on almost all occasions. So if other independent FF candidates are elected will they adopt the same strategy.

Of course with the party's fortunes in a tailspin at present, many FF hopefuls might be better off going as independents and then doing a 'Dixie' afterwards.

Ann Ryan

Ann Ryan, the community activist who runs a thriving electrical goods business on High Street, Kilkenny with her brother Martin is thinking about running for the Borough Council elections in June.

Insider heard that a number of people have asked her to stand on behalf of the disenfranchised and those who feel they have no voice at official level. She is believed to be thinking seriously about it.

Another Callan candidate

RUMOUR has it that a high-profile Labour candidate may run in the Callan area of the County Council elections on Friday, June 5.
There are four seats up for grabs in the Callan electoral area and at present there are only four certain candidates, making this Election a non-event.

Cllr Tom Maher (FG) and Cllr Billy Ireland (FG) will be hoping to hold on their hard earned seats while two FF candidates will be named shortly. Cllr Matt Doran is a certainty for the FF ticket, and the other will probably be Claire Somers. There is a chance that FF will run a third candidate, John Eardly. Insider should know either way next week.

Betty Manning

NOTHING official yet, but it looks likely that Fine Gael will add a bit of glamour to their line up for the County Council elections. Cllr Betty Manning, who is already a sitting Borough Council member, is likely to join her FG colleagues Cllr Martin Brett and Cllr Paul Cuddihy in the city area of the County Council elections.
The former Mayor is expected to announce her candidacy after months of soul searching.

Caps set on elections expenses

In the current economic climate, Insider doubts if anyone can afford to spend €15,000 on a campaign for the County Council elections or f7,500 for the Borough Councils. These are the caps set by Environment Minister John Gormley.

Polling day

Historically, a Friday polling day has been bad news for Fianna Fáil. And that's why Insider thinks that Green Party Minister for the Environment called the election for that day to give students and workers a chance to return home to vote. The polling stations will open on Friday, June 5 at 7am and close at 10pm.

Say what you like about his economic policies, but Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has got charisma in bucket loads. He charmed local queen of the airwaves Sue Nunn on air last Wednesday before working his charm on the staff of the Kilkenny People offices afterwards.