Ireland:Dungarvan Electoral Area-Council Election Results 2009 (Labour drop a seat)

Party	1st Pref	% Votes	Seats Won
Fine Gael	3,705	43.7%	3
Labour	1,699	20.0%	1
Fianna Fáil	1,384	16.3%	1
Sinn Féin	978	11.5%	1
Independent	720	8.5%	0

Name	Party	Sitting	1st Pref	% Votes	Elected
BREATHNACH, Jimmy	FG		445	5.2%
CRONIN, Tom	FF	Sitting	874	10.3%	Elected
GEOGHEGAN, Damien	FG	Sitting	1300	15.3%	Elected
HIGGINS, Tom	FG	Sitting	746	8.8%	Elected
KYNE, Billy	Labour	Sitting	959	11.3%	Elected
MANSFIELD, Brendan	Sinn Fein	Sitting	978	11.5%	Elected
NUGENT, Pat	FG	Sitting	1214	14.3%	Elected
O'DONNELL, Seamus	Ind		720	8.5%
WILKINSON, Ollie	FF		510	6.0%
WRIGHT, Teresa	Labour	Sitting	740	8.7%

In this electoral area the number of seats was reduced from 7 to six. One of the outgoing councillors faced the chop. Labour's Teresa Wright lost her seat. Many expected that FGs Pat Nugent would lose out. However he turned in a stunning performance and secured 1214 first preferences. This election has been a great success for FG with the party securing 3,705 (43.7%) first preferences. In addition Damien Geoghegan (FG) topped the poll with 1300 first preferences.

FFs failure to run a candidate from Dungarvan town backfired whilst the strategy of introducing Ollie Wilkinson (resident in Lismore Electoral area) failed to yield an extra seat. Seamus O'Donnell was not nominated by FF and ran as an independent. However he failed to secure election.

Ireland:Lismore Electoral Area-Council Election Results 2009 (FF drop a seat)

Party	First Pref	%Votes	Seats Won
FG	2631	45.3%	2
FF	2346	40.4%	1
Lab	836	14.4%	1

Name	Party	Sitting	First Prefs	%Votes	Elected
Curran Liam	FG		876	15.1%
Doocey Declan	FG	Sitting	822	14.1%	Elected
Flynn Nora	FG	Sitting	933	16.1%	Elected
Leddy Bernard	FF		679	11.7%
Pratt John	Labour		836	14.4%	Elected
Tobin James	FF	Sitting	1023	17.6%	Elected
Wilkinson K	FF	Sitting	644	11.1%

　
Here FF suffered an embarrassing reverse. It entered the election with 2 seats. Its strategy of adding Bernard Leddy to the ticket backfired and cost Kevin Wilkinson his seat. Both candidates were operating out of the town of Lismore. Outgoing councillor Kevin Wilkinson was eliminated. His transfers scattered and failed to bring in Bernard Leddy. This allowed Labour candidate John Pratt (Tallow) to snatch the seat. FF with 40.4% of first preferences could only manage one seat whilst Labour with 14.4% also won a seat. James Tobin FF topped the poll.
Newcomer for FG Liam Curran polled strongly, however he was overtaken by hardworking councillor Declan Doocey (FG) who has been particularly effective since his election in 2004. Cllr Nora Flynn-from Cappoquin- as usual garnered a huge vote testimony to her effectiveness as a great councillor.
FG will be particularly satisfied with its huge vote-(45.3%). This is up from 38% in the 2004 Local Elections. Indeed the party came close to snatching a third seat.

Video: St. Mary's Cistercian Abbey Glencairn Co. Waterford Ireland

St. Mary's Abbey, Glencairn is situated on the banks of the river Blackwater, about three miles west of Lismore, in Co.Waterford.It is a community of monastic women belonging to the Cistercian Order.The nuns follow the ancient Rule of St. Benedict, which goes back to the sixth century.There are three key elements in their day: liturgy, lectio divina, and work.They are the only community of Cistercian women in Ireland.

Video: Coumshingaun Corrie Lake Comeragh Mountains, Co. Waterford, Ireland

Coumshingaun is the best example of a Corrie lake in Europe and is situated in the Comeragh Mountains in Co. Waterford, Ireland. It is a magical spot and this video shows a rescue helicopter circling around looking for an injured person.

RTE visits the Booley House at Ballyduff Co. Waterford

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Glendine Catholic Church-Co. Waterford

Glendine Catholic Church is located in a picturesque landscape. It is embedded in a wooded glen and the Glendine River flows peacefully by. It is an oasis of peace and prayer in a troubled world. It is located in West Waterford, Ireland and is close to towns such as Youghal, Tallow, Lismore and Cappoquin.

Lismore Co. Waterford:fire at a disused recycling plant may have serious health implications

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Residents from 20 houses at the Mills in Lismore Co. Waterford were evacuated as a precautionary measure when fire broke out around 11pm last night at the disused Sam Shire recycling plant.The building was totally destroyed. Many more families were ordered to keep windows and doors shut as fire-fighters from West Waterford and East Cork tackled the blaze at an asbestos-roofed building. Toxic fumes were emitted as the asbestos roof collapsed into the fire and as plastic was burned. The plant has been left derelict for the past three years. c 4,000 tonnes of rubbish had been left in the building. Grave concern has been expressed at the health implications, as asbestos fibres are carcinogenic.

Electoral Area Boundary Committee Report 2008 for Co. Waterford recommends radical changes for 2009 Local Elections

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In order to ....... rebalance the population per member within County Waterford, the Committee recommends: -

1. The transfer of electoral divisions as follows:
1.1. Ballyheeny, Clashmore, Dromore and Keereen (total population 1,372) from
Dungarvan to Lismore electoral area.

2. The creation of a new electoral area as follows:

2.1. A new electoral area of Comeragh to be created by amalgamating the existing electoral areas of Suir and Kilmacthomas.

The redistribution of council seats among the electoral areas as follows:

3.1. Dungarvan 6-seats; Lismore 4-seats; Comeragh 6-seats; Tramore 7-seats.

The following is a detailed description of each recommended electoral area:
Dungarvan
The town of Dungarvan and the electoral divisions of Ardmore, Aird Mhór, An Rinn,
Baile Mhac Airt, Bohadoon, Cappagh, Carriglea, Clonea (in the former Rural District
of Dungarvan), Colligan, Courmaraglin, Dungarvan Rural, Glenwilliam, Grallagh,
Grange, Kinsalebeg, Modelligo (in the former Rural District of Dungarvan),
Mountstuart.

Lismore
The electoral divisions of Ballyduff, Ballyhane, Ballyheeny, Ballyin, Ballynamult,
Ballysaggartmore, Cappoquin, Castlerichard, Clashmore, Dromana, Dromore,
Drumroe, Gortnapeaky, Keereen, Kilcockan, Kilwatermoy East, Kilwatermoy West,
Lismore Rural, Lismore Urban, Mocollop, Modelligo (in the former Rural District of
Lismore), Seskinan, Tallow, Templemichael, Whitechurch.

Comeragh
The electoral divisions of Annestown, Ballydurn, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry,
Carrigcastle, Carrickbeg Rural, Clonea (in the former Rural District of Carrick-on-Suir
No.2), Comeragh, Dunhill, Fenoagh, Fews, Fox’s Castle, Gardenmorris,
Georgestown, Glen, Graignagower, Gurteen, Kilbarrymeaden, Kilmacomma,
Kilmacthomas, Kilmeaden (in the former Rural District of Carrick-on-Suir No.2),
Kilmeaden (in the former Rural District of Waterford No.1), Kilronan,
Knockaunbrandaun, Knockmahon, Mothel, Mountkennedy, Newcastle, Newtown,
Portlaw, Rathgormuck, Ross, St Mary’s, Stradbally, Tinnasaggart.

Tramore
The electoral divisions of Ballynakill, Drumcannon, Faithlegg, Islandikane, Kilbarry,
Killea, Killoteran, Kilmacleague, Pembrokestown, Rathmoylon, Reisk, Tramore,
Woodstown.

Source:
Electoral Area Boundary Committe Report 2008 (Full Report can be sourced here)

Ireland: Sheep killed on Comeragh Mountains by stray dog-The Implications

Deise AM on WLR featured an interesting interview with a sheep farmer who complained bitterly about worrying of sheep by a stray dog on the Comeragh Mountains, Co. Waterford. Last night the dog killed seven sheep many of them in lamb. The rest of his sheep were found in a terrified condition. The farmer must now dispose of the carcases at his own expense.

Sheep farmers are at the mercy of stray dogs. The farmer made the point that on some occasions dogs are dumped by their owners. On other occasions they may break free from hill walkers and wreak havoc.

Another farmer contacted the programme to state that there were five stray dogs on the loose in the Lismore area.
Unfortunately some urban dwellers cannot appreciate the difficulties facing sheep farmers. Many farmers are painted as unreasonable when they complain about difficulties posed by some hill walkers who are accompanied by dogs.

Hopefully hill walkers who are tempted to bring dogs on their mountain treks will desist from the practice. It poses difficulties for the overwhelming majority of sensible walkers.
Sheep farmers are entitled to protect their livelihoods.