COUNCIL PROFILE: OFFALY:OFFALY MAY be known as the Faithful County but when it comes to local politics, there appears to be a lot of political infidelity about the place.
Most would suppose that in the homeland of Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Offaly is a sea of green and gold, stalwart sons of the Soldiers of Destiny.
That is true up to a point but one of the remarkable things about the forthcoming local elections is the number of former Fianna Fáilers who are standing as Independents.
In the Edenderry area alone, three former Fianna Fáilers have jumped ship and are taking an independent road, as Ger Scully, editor of the Tullamore Tribune, explained.
“They point to the new selection system introduced by Fianna Fáil head office and they do not like it,” he said.
“One of the most interesting of the Independent Fianna Fáilers looking for a seat is Stephen Mather, who was an up-and-coming man and being groomed for greater things. “Another is Noel Cribben, who has also opted out of the party; and Fidelma Dooley, who will also be running as an Independent,” said Mr Scully.
But infidelity is not just confined to Fianna Fáil. It seems to have infected Fine Gael as well and in the Tullamore area itself, two former Fine Gaelers, Johnny Butterfield and Michael Fox, will be also going Independent.
There have been electoral boundary changes in the county which have seen the Birr electoral area lose one of its five seats to Edenderry which now has six seats. This will result in a very tight contest in the Ferbane area where five sitting councillors will be seeking four seats.
The changes in Ireland since the last local elections will also see Fine Gael run a locally based Polish national, Tomasz Askuntowicz. The economy is dominating the debate with jobs and job losses highest on the agenda.
The county council is currently controlled by Fianna Fáil, which has the largest grouping with eight members; Fine Gael has six and there are seven Independents who work with Fianna Fáil.
This being Cowen country, the cathaoirleach is councillor Barry Cowen, the Taoiseach’s brother who is also a local businessman.
Labour, which once had a strong foothold in the county, will be fielding nine candidates in the county and town council elections, the best known of whom are Seán O’Brien of Tullamore and Timothy Molloy in Birr.
Brendan Killeavy from Tullamore will be running for Sinn Féin in both the county and town council contest.
Offaly is not to be without its celebrity candidates either.
Taking to the field again after his outing in the general election is country musician John Bracken. He will be standing in Clara as an Independent and has produced a special CD for the contest.
But Fine Gael are claiming the top prize in the celebrity stakes, saying persuading hurling legend Brian Whelehan to stand for them is a coup.
“He is our local George Lee,” said one local Fine Gael supporter, who added Mr Whelehan would most definitely head the poll in his area, Birr.
How the parties stand
Offaly: 21 seats
FF 8
FG 6
Others 7