There are significant changes looming for local public representatives in Westmeath in the aftermath of the Local Electoral Area Boundary Report, published this week.
The report has caused shock in many quarters and not everyone will be satisfied, but the change is inevitable and several areas of Westmeath, including Greenpark in Mullingar, will be included in the new electoral area of Moate. However, it may also be good for Mullingar in the sense that the town will have six public representatives following the next local elections, while a further five will come from the new Kinnegad area, meaning that a total of 11 seats. The new Athlone area will have nine public representatives.
The county is currently carved up as follows: Athlone (7 seats), Mullingar Coole (7 seats) and Mullingar-Kilbeggan (6 seats). Significantly, Moate would be joining Athlone under the new proposal, while Mullingar is linked with Kinnegad as the new Mullingar Municipal District. Overall, there will still be 20 council seats, but the new areas mean sitting councillors may well, in future, have to look to new areas for their constituents’ needs.
Mullingar will include Belvedere, Castle, Cloug-han, Heathstown, Hopes-town, Knockdrin, Mull- ingar North Urban, Mullingar Rural, Mullin-gar South Urban, Owel, Russellstown and Tullaghan. Kinnegad will cover a huge area, including Ballyhealy, Gaybrook, Kilpatrick, Killucan and Taghmon. Moate will also be massive and will include areas like Ballinalack, Kilbixy (the former administrative capital of Westmeath), Sonna and Rathconrath.
Bringing Mullingar together as one area is seen by many as being potentially very beneficial going forward, in terms of helping the town develop and grow, and Councillor Johnnie Penrose, who will be one of those affected by the changes, feels there are positives in the new proposals. He has been on the council for almost 16 years, since 2002, and will lose large chunks of the Mullingar area, which were key to him being elected in former years.
“It will be a long way to the Moate border for me and then right back across to Tyrrellspass. It’s a new challenge, but I believe it will be advantageous to Mullingar going forward and I’m not entirely surprised by the change.”
It will mean difficult decisions for others, like Cllr Andrew Duncan, who will be living in what is the new Moate electoral area. He confirmed that he will seek a Fine Gael nomination to run in Mullingar, though, since that is where he is based and he is satisfied that there will be renewed focus on the town under the new proposals.
ATHLONE UPSET
However, in the south of the county, the new report is not being welcomed with open arms.
Athlone Municipal District currently has seven serving County Councillors, while the Mullingar Municipal District has 13 County Councillors.
The good news is that Athlone Municipal District, embracing the new Athlone Local Electoral Area and Moate Local Electoral Area, will have 9 County Councillors following the scheduled 2019 Local Elections. Mullingar Municipal District will have 11 Councillors.
Athlone Local Electoral Area: – 5 Seats; Moate Local Electoral Area: 4 Seats; Mullingar Local Electoral Area: – 6 Seats; Kinnegad Local Electoral Area: – 5 Seats.
Fears are growing that Moate could lose out on the election of public representative[s) in the wake of the way the areas have been carved. One source close to political life in the town recalled that for many years there was no public representative elected from the town or surrounding area.
The Independent Commission on Boundaries has redrawn the constituencies county by county across Ireland.
The Athlone Electoral Area includes Muckinagh, Doonis, Killinure, Auburn, Glasson, Moydrum, Carn, Castledaly and Tubbrit, the Athlone East Rural and West Athlone.
The seven elected public representatives are understood to be looking at the situation across their areas.
The Mayor of Athlone Municipal District, Cllr. Frankie Keena (FF) lashed out at the changes. “I am completely flabbergasted. It is shameful. If you look at the whole idea of this review to make Electoral Areas smaller – I am lost for an explanation as to how that can justify creating an Electoral Area from Moate-Mount Temple right across the county to the Longford border with Athlone.”
He will continue to work for the Moate and Mount Temple areas, he insisted.
Cllr. Tom Farrell (FG), who lives at Walderstown, Athlone, is also affected.
“If I stand in the Athlone Electoral Area, I would lose Ardnaglug, Drumraney, Noughaval, Tang, Mount Temple, Uumagh, Moyvoughley, Ballymore, Killare, Streamstown, part of Loughnavalley and Moate as well. I would lose out on votes from the area where I live,” he revealed.
“The new area runs from the Offaly border the whole way to the Longford border at Rathowen,” he explained.
The Athlone Electoral Area includes Muckinagh, Doonis, Killinure, Auburn, Glasson, Moydrum, Carn, Castledaly, Tubbrit, Athlone East Rural and Athlone West Rural.
Cllr. Michael O’Brien (Independent) said he was shocked and devastated to hear the news of the Local Electoral Area Boundary Report.
“It is a huge blow to me to see my home town of Moate taken out of the Athlone Electoral Area. Moate has always worked well within the Athlone Electoral Area. There was no need for any changes. This new Moate area stretches as far as the Mullingar border and places like Rathowen and Emper in North Westmeath. It makes no sense. There is absolutely no logic to these changes. It is a total gerrymandering of electoral areas that suits the bigger parties. It cuts my vote in half and leaves me with a huge uphill battle to retain my seat. With 85 per cent of the population in this area living outside of Moate, the big loser in this review is Moate. Moate will really struggle to retain a Councillor as a result of this. I will meet with my campaign team and supporters in the coming days and we will consider the options and move forward. I have worked hard since my election in 2014, right across the Athlone Municipal District, and I will continue to do so,” Cllr. O’Brien promised.
Cllr. Anegus O’Rourke described the proposed changes as ridiculous.
Cllr. John Dolan (FG) wasn’t impressed with the developments, saying he will be losing Moate and other rural areas as well in the carve-up.
