Three per cent drop in FF support sees party lose seat

Fianna Fáil continues to be the main vote-getter in Athlone Town Council, albeit the party"s share of the first preference vote dropped from by just over three per cent to 38.2%. However, the slight fall in first preferences, combined with a 4.5% rise for Fine Gael resulted in the latter gaining a seat at Fianna Fáil"s expense. While Fianna Fáil bucked the trend somewhat in Athlone with Boxer topping the poll and a loss of only one seat compared to much sharper losses elsewhere in the country, its percentage of vote dropped by over 3% on the last local election in 2004. Five years ago the party had 41.5% of the vote, while this year this dropped to 38.2%. Fine Gael"s percentage of the vote over the period increased, but perhaps not as much as the party would have hoped for. In 2004 Fine Gael had 24.8% of the vote and this year this increased to 28.3%. Sinn Féin also saw an increase over the past five years, receiving 6.6% of the vote in 2004 and 7.7% this year. Labour increased its vote by almost 2%, receiving 8.6% of the vote five years ago and 10.3% of the vote this year. The percentage of the vote that went to others decreased slightly over the five years, with other candidates receiving 18% of the vote in 2004 and 15.5% this year. Cllr Kevin "Boxer" Moran took over the mantle as poll-topper from now Senator Nicky McFadden who had led the field in 2004. Boxer"s performance was astounding as he increased his vote by 42%, up from 623 to 885. Boxer"s popularity across the political spectrum can be gauged from the fact that just 40% of his surplus was transferred to his party colleagues. Independent Sheila Buckley Byrne was the sensation of the election, being the second to be elected, after a tremendous first preference vote of 541. On the first count figure of 487, it was clear that a family political dynasty would have a new member, that of Aengus, son of Mary, and cousin of Brian and Conor Lenihan. However, the other three Fianna Fáil candidates did not look as secure, with John Butler receiving a first preference vote of 317, Kieran Molloy receiving 389 first preference votes and Egbert Moran receiving 253 first preference votes. However, Cllr Molloy"s prospects were boosted considerably when he took a significant 111 transfers after the distribution of Butler"s votes. Of the these three Fianna Fáil outgoing councillors, Molloy suffered the least fall on his vote from 2004 - a fact that probably saved his seat. The four Fine Gael candidates polled well with not many votes separating them, but they needed the transfers to really go their way and the loss of either a Fianna Fáil or a Labour seat to see them secure all four seats. Gabrielle McFadden received the highest first preference vote of the four candidates at 473, followed closely by Alan Shaw at 455, while just six votes separated Mark Cooney (407) and Mick O"Connell (401), a pattern that remained steady for much of the day with the two party colleagues left to fight it out for the final seat, with Cooney taking the seat by 22 votes. Labour"s Ray Lennon was clearly in danger early on with a first preference vote of 267 and the big question was whether or not his transfers would remain within the party and help out colleague Jim Henson, who received a first preference vote of 369, massively up from his 120 last time out. Sinn Féin"s Paul Hogan polled well with a first preference vote of 472, clearly enough to see him home and 34 transfers from Mick Meade sent him a long way towards the quota of 613. The new council is certainly a changed one with the retirement of Austin Berry and the defeat of four sitting councillors resulting in a significant change of the guard. Five new councillors - Sheila Buckley-Byrne (Ind), Jim Henson, Gabrielle McFadden, Aengus O"Rourke and Alan Shaw - will enter the Chamber next month, while Fianna Fáil"s Kieran Molloy now takes the title of longest serving councillor with 22 years service on Athlone Town Council, followed by Mark Cooney (FG) who is entering into his fourth term, Kevin "Boxer" Moran entering into his third and Paul Hogan entering into his second. Over the last five years Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin formed an alliance in the council, but now that Fine Gael has made a gain and Fianna Fáil has lost a seat this dynamic could well change over the next five years. If Fianna Fáil is to retain power of the council it will need the assistance of two other candidates, something it is unlikely to get from Labour, as Fine Gael and Labour had formed an alliance over the last term of the council. However, it could draw on Sinn Féin"s Paul Hogan and Independent Cllr Sheila Buckley-Byrne to retain power. Likewise if the Fine Gael/Labour alliance remains steadfast Ms Buckley Byrne could join this side of the house to see a Fine Gael/Labour/Independent coalition control the council. It is unlikely that Fine Gael and Sinn Féin will do a deal, but as this election has been somewhat unprecedented with four councillors losing their seats and the biggest change Athlone Town Council has seen in recent years nothing could be ruled out as yet.