COUNCIL PROFILE: CORK CITY:THE BIG question in Cork city, as it is nationwide, is to what extent Fianna Fáil candidates can appeal to personal loyalties to insulate themselves from public anger over the party's performance in Government and its handling of an economic crisis which has seen unemployment in the city rise by over 7,000 in the year to April 2009.
In 2004, Fianna Fáil’s first-preference vote in Cork city fell 7 per cent to 29 per cent and with the party’s national support down to 20 per cent in the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, it faces a real fight to hold its 10 seats. Fianna Fáil’s biggest challenge is arguably in the mainly working-class northwest ward where, with the seats reduced from five to four, its sitting councillor Tony Fitzgerald will be under pressure from Labour councillor Mick O’Connell and Fine Gael councillor Joe O’Callaghan. Both Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan O’Brien and Independent councillor Dave McCarthy looking safe.
The five-seat north central ward is no less intriguing with poll-topping councillor Mick Barry of the Socialist Party, Councillor Catherine Clancy of Labour and Fine Gael councillor Patricia Gosch looking assured of seats along with either councillor Damian Wallace or Councillor Kenneth O’Flynn (son of TD Noel O’Flynn) of Fianna Fáil.
The second placed Fianna Fáil candidate looks set for a fight for the last seat with Jackie Connolly, who narrowly missed out on a seat here in 2004 for Sinn Féin but is now running for the Workers Party, Thomas Gould of Sinn Féin or Labour’s second candidate, Paddy Brown.
It could depend on which one can stay ahead to benefit from left-wing transfers.
The northeast ward has seen its seats cut from five to four, but the challenge for councillors has been eased by the retirement of PD councillor Máirín Quill.
John Kelleher (Labour), Dara Murphy (FG) and Tim Brosnan (FF) look safe.
The race for the last seat has been thrown wide open by Independent councillor Annette Spillane nominating herself for the wrong ward, making for a contest between Fine Gael’s Derek Connolly, Independent David Whyte, Pat Coughlan of Sinn Féin and Workers Party veteran Ted Tynan.
Cork southwest has seen its representation upped from five to six and sitting Fine Gael councillors, Lord Mayor Brian Bermingham and John Buttimer should be re-elected.
So too should sitting Fianna Fáil duo Fergal Dennehy and Mary Shields, with Labour councillor Michael Ahern and Sinn Féin’s Henry Cremin well positioned to make the breakthrough and finally win seats after several attempts.
The more working-class south central ward looks set to return one Fine Gael candidate to replace retiring veteran Dino Cregan, councillor Lorraine Kingston of Labour and at least one of the two sitting Fianna Fáil councillors, either Micheál Martin’s brother, Seán or councillor Tom O’Driscoll.
In the middle-class southeast ward, up from six to seven seats, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil look set to land two seats each, with one for Labour. Councillor Chris O’Leary, who quit the Greens earlier this year, should also be elected as an Independent, leaving the last seat between Fine Gael first-timer Des Cahill, historian Kieran McCarthy who is running as an Independent and Ken Ahern of Sinn Féin.
Fianna Fáil could end up with seven-10 seats, Fine Gael may get eight-11 seats, Labour might gain a seat but is more likely to retain its six, while Sinn Féin could get one to five. Up to five Independents could be returned.
HOW THE PARTIES STAND
(Outgoing)
FF 10
FG 8
Lab6
SF 2
Others 5