Kilkenny voters go for status quo with few surprises, as several councillors now line up General Election bid

In the end, perhaps the most intriguing thing about this election is the relative lack of surprises.

With a handful of exceptions, this result would appear to be a striking endorsement of the status quo. The people of Kilkenny — those of them who vote anyway — seem reasonably satisfied with how their local councillors have delivered for them over the last five years. Or, at least, they are unconvinced that the alternative voices coming forward would be able to do any better.

Because it’s remarkable how similar the results are to those of the 2019 Local Elections. At a glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d mistakenly picked up the poll results from five years ago. Eleven Fianna Fail? Check. Two Labour? Yes. One Green? Sure. And the poll-toppers: Andrew McGuinness, Peter ‘Chap’ Cleere, Pat Fitzpatrick, and Pat Dunphy. All as in 2019.

The two largest parties in Kilkenny’s local government will remain so. Almost all of their sitting councillors retained their seats. Where sitting councillors had decided not to run again, their 2019 votes very smoothly found their way to party candidates who stepped up to hold the seats, most notably Joe Sheridan in for Matt Doran in Callan-Thomastown, and Jenny Catt Slattery for Eamon Aylward in Piltown.

A bad day at the polls for Sinn Fein? In 2019 it looked like an aberration, but this time they fared little better. The party secured the sixth seat in Callan-Thomastown — just one successful candidate out of eight. Six months ago, Sinn Fein was riding high in the polls, and it’s only four years since Kathleen Funchion won a General Election in this constituency with a record-breaking vote. It is cause for concern for them.
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There are, of course, some differences when compared to 2019. The Green wave of 2019 has been reduced now to more of a ripple —enough to get one councillor elected, but only on Count 15, and in a very close-fought affair rather than on Count 1.

There is a seat once again for Labour in Kilkenny City, rather than in the north of the county. And, Fine Gael have lost two seats -their loss a gain each for Sinn Fein and another Independent.

Of the two independents, only Eugene McGuinness in the city is a known entity. After five years in the council chamber, he has increased his first preference share by a solid margin. In the north, Maurice Shortall is a new face, and we wait to see what he will bring to the table and the nature of his politics.

Gender
The number of women on Kilkenny County Council has increased after this election. In 2019, three women were elected — one in Callan-Thomastown, one in Castlecomer, and one in Piltown. That figure has now doubled, with two in Callan-Thomastown, two in Piltown, one in the city and Mary Hilda Cavanagh still thriving in North Kilkenny, ever-present since 1974.

There were also three candidates from a non-Irish background contesting these Local Elections, with a notable absence thereof in 2019. None of them managed to win a seat, and the best performing on this occasion was Independent Toluwani Akaehomen in Kilkenny City LEA, who polled 323 first preferences and picked up sufficient transfers to keep her in the race until Count 12. 

Despite a loud social media campaign, the ‘Ireland is Full’ candidates and fringe independents failed to make any real gains this time out.  And yet, speaking to the Kilkenny People, city poll-topper Andrew McGuinness (FF) was candid, saying that immigration did come up on the doorsteps a lot, adding it was something that needs to be discussed.

The voters of Kilkenny rejected the far right on this occasion, opting to place their faith in the hands of more centrist candidates, or those who have already been in office in recent years. Perhaps it is less of an issue here currently than elsewhere, or maybe voters just feel it’s a shade beyond the control of a local councillor. Whatever the case, it’s something that is not going to go away soon.

The European Parliament results across the rest of the continent have borne out a growth in support for Far Right and anti-immigration politicians. Germany, France, Belgium and others have seen big gains by these parties and it would be naive  to think a similar scenario will never present here.

General Election
Speaking of Europe, if local TD Kathleen Funchion is successful in her bid, her ascension to the European Parliament will trigger a by-election to fill the Dáil seat — unless a General Election takes place within six months. That’s a possibility that now seems increasingly likely. Sinn Fein’s failure to land more than one local candidate will pose an interesting dilemma for the party as to whom should run for the Dáil.

And for a handful of local election candidates, the past few weeks also served as a dress rehearsal for that impending General Election. Already confirming they will contest a Dáil seat are Cllr David Fitzgerald (FG) and Cllr Eugene McGuinness (Ind). It’s likely that a certain Fianna Fail councillor will be declaring his hand any day now, while a new Fine Gael candidate may emerge in South Kilkenny also. What about Labour? Or the Social Democrats, who performed much better than many expected?

More may well declare in the coming weeks, and it could end up being as many as a half dozen. Should any of them be successful, other people will be co-opted to the council in their place. There are already various names swirling around, including one former councillor who has only just retired. The more things change...