Elections 2024: 12 candidates vying for six seats in Newcastle West
Unlike other county districts, this is the only area with no sitting councillors retiring
THERE are twelve candidates all looking for one of the six seats in the Newcastle West Municipal District.
Unlike in the other county districts, where there are one or more retirements, all six sitting councillors in this district are hoping to retain their seats.
It is the only municipal district in the county area where there are no retirements. Their neighbours in the Adare- Rathkeale area are losing both Kevin Sheahan and Emmett O’Brien.
Equally, over the other direction in the county, the Cappamore-Kilmallock area is losing two councillors to retirements - Gerald Mitchell, the current mayor, and John Egan.
The script would say that the seats in Newcastle West are not as hotly-contested as other areas, as these councillors are well-established in the communities they represent, but the polling booths and the changes they might bring are very hard to predict.
New to the race are two candidates for Independent Ireland - James Barrett and Pat King, while Gerben Uunk who is also contesting the directly elected mayor election, will run for the Party for Animal Welfare.
Other new faces hoping to make their mark are Fianna Fáil’s Kathleen Barrett and Gerard Madigan and Sinn Féin’s Padraig Collins.
Last time around, Fine Gael’s Jerome Scanlan topped the poll with 2,512 votes. He was followed by Fianna Fáil’s Michael Collins, Fine Gael’s Liam Galvin and John Sheahan, Fianna Fáil’s Francis Foley and Fine Gael’s Tom Ruddle.
Municipal District of Newcastle West candidates
Seats: 6 Candidates: 12
James Barrett - Independent Ireland
Kathleen Lucy Barrett - Fianna Fáil
Michael Collins - Fianna Fáil
Padraig Collins - Sinn Féin
Francis Foley - Fianna Fáil
Liam Galvin - Fine Gael
Pat King - Independent Ireland
Gerard Madigan - Fianna Fáil
Tom Ruddle - Fine Gael
Jerome Scanlan - Non-Party
John Sheahan - Fine Gael
Gerben Uunk - Party for Animal Welfare