Council profile: Tipperary North Dynastic considerations and Nenagh hospital feature prominently, writes Liam Reid
The election for North Tipperary County Council has two key ingredients for a tense political showdown - a row over the local hospital and several political dynasties anxious to retain the family seats.
The offspring of three men who have served in Cabinet - Michael Lowry, Michael O'Kennedy and Michael Smith - are running. All three are candidates in their fathers' political strongholds - Ms Orla O'Kennedy in Nenagh, Mr Michael Smith jnr in Templemore and Mr Michael Lowry jnr in Thurles.
A fourth political dynasty - in the shape of the O'Connor family - has a representative running in Nenagh for the county council elections. Joe Coleman O'Connor, of the O'Connor's shopping centre dynasty, is seeking election. His father Joey, whose company made a €2 million settlement with the Revenue Commissioners last year, was an Independent councillor for two decades.
Fianna Fáil is attempting to hold on to its majority in the council, while it is important for both Labour and Fine Gael to increase representation if they are to stand a chance of gaining a seat in the next general election.
Even though he is not standing because of the dual mandate rule, the presence of Michael Lowry looms large over the constituency. In 1999 Lowry got one of the highest votes of any local election candidate in the State, obtaining 2½ quotas, and bringing in a running mate, Willie Kennedy.This time, his 27-year-old son is running in his stead in the Thurles area, as the Lowry political machine attempts to hold both seats. The Lowry "party" is also running three candidates in the Thurles Town Council election.
Fianna Fáil is the party most under pressure to hold its three seats in Thurles, although the three candidates, Séamus Hanafin (cousin of Government Chief Whip Mary Hanafin), John Egan and Harry Ryan are all considered strong.
Fine Gael is hoping to double its seats to two in Templemore, while Labour is also running two candidates, with John Kenehan standing a strong chance of gaining a seat for the party.
The single biggest issue in the elections in the northern half of the constituency is the future of Nenagh hospital, and the ability of Fianna Fáil to fend off a full assault on the issue from Labour, Fine Gael and Independent candidates will most likely determine whether it can hold control of the council.
In 1999 Fianna Fáil took four out of the seven seats in the Nenagh electoral area and will find it difficult to do so next month.
The hospital has been identified for a downgrading of services in the Hanly report, leading to major protests by local residents. Labour Senator Kathleen O'Meara has been to the fore on the issue, with Fianna Fáil shouldering most of the blame.
Recent Government announcements about the retention of some services have failed to dampen the issue.
Labour and Fine Gael have one seat each in the Nenagh area, and both parties are fielding two candidates in the hope of gaining at the expense of Fianna Fáil.
The Government party also faces losses on the town council over the issue, which has again seen the emergence of strong Independent candidates.
In the Borrisokane electoral area, the smallest with three seats, Fianna Fáil is again under pressure. Currently with two out of the three seats, the party is facing a strong challenge from Independent candidate Michael O'Meara.
In the Templemore/Roscrea electoral area, Michael Smith jnr, son of the Minister for Defence, is on the ticket, but if he gains a seat it is almost certain to be at the expense of one of the three incumbent Fianna Fáil councillors, who are running in the five-seat area.
The Michael Lowry machine is also running a candidate, Seán Fogarty, the current chairman of the Munster Council of the GAA. Fogarty was co-opted on to the council last year to replace Michael Lowry following the dual mandate ban.
He moved from the Thurles electoral area to make way for Lowry jnr. Better-known in the Thurles electoral area, he faces a difficult challenge to take a seat.