The annual meeting of Kerry County Council will take place on Friday, 7th June 2019 at 11am in the Council Chamber
The main business will be the election of Cathaoirleach, Leas-Cathaoirleach and the filling of various committee positions in the wake of last week’s local elections.
The annual meeting of each of the municipal districts will take place on Friday, 14th June 2019 in the Council Chamber with times to be decided.
This will facilitate the election of Mayor of Tralee and Cathaoirligh and Leas-Cathaoirligh.
There are five Municipal Districts: Tralee; Listowel; Kenmare; Killarney and Castleisland-Corca Dhuibhne.
Returning to Abnormality
Meanwhile, things are getting back to abnormality here in Castleisland as its residents come to terms with the election over the weekend and its historic ramifications.
Sword of Damocles
There is a Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of Cllr. Jackie Healy Rae in that he is due in court in Kenmare to contest assault charges on the very June 7th on which Kerry County Council is due to meet. However, it’s a sword which certainly didn’t cause his electoral prospects any harm in the greater Castleisland Local Electoral Area.
Pledged his Allegiances
In the meantime, Cllr. Healy Rae pledged his allegiances to the people who voted for him – or didn’t. He vowed a five year term of hard work and attentions to the needs of the area. And, if you could imagine him with his hands on his hips, you can also hear him saying: “The person who can take this seat from me isn’t born yet,” – as he did in a Social Media message to his new constituents this week.
Beaten to the Punch
Rumours are swirling like crows in a storm of new residents and of the innovative idea of election time tourism.
I can’t remember an election – and local elections in particular – that didn’t have an episode or two where one party or another was beaten to the punch in ‘getting the vote out.’
This involved members of the party faithful using their own or party transport and picking up elderly residents and coaching him / her on the best candidates to vote for and often accompanying the infirm to the point of vote casting. It happened across all parties and, as such, could be put down to democracy itself.
Over 5,000 Didn’t Vote
The Castleisland Local Election Area representatives are, as they were elected:
Cllr. Jackie Healy Rae, Independent; Cllr. Charlie Farrelly, Independent; Cllr. Bobby O’Connell, Fine Gael and Cllr. Fionnán Fitzgerald, Fianna Fáil.
A total of 5,386 people in the Castleisland Local Electoral Area who were entitled to vote didn’t turn out to do so.
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