Westmeath proves safe

Fianna Fáil emerged relatively unscathed from local elections in the Westmeath Independent region, compared to the collapse in the party"s performance nationally. Across Westmeath, the party actually increased its share of the vote, up just over a half a per cent from 2004 and retained its nine seats on Westmeath County Council. Westmeath County Council is one of only three local authorities, along with Offaly and Donegal county councils, where the party remains the largest. Fine Gael"s share of the vote across the county rose by just over one per cent to 32.4%, whilst Labour was down by 3.3%, to 21.8%. In the Athlone electoral area of Westmeath County Council, the party lost one seat, albeit due to the reduction in the number of available seats from seven to six. Its share of the vote was down by 6.5% to 43.7%, still significantly above the 25.4% national average. It now has three of the six seats, with Fine Gael members taking up the others. At local town council level, Fianna Fáil also lost a seat, following a 3.3% fall in its share of the vote to 38.2%. Fine Gael was the beneficiary, increasing its representation from two to three, thanks to a 3.5% rise. Alan Shaw and Gabrielle McFadden took Fine Gael seats, whilst Mick O"Connell lost out. Kevin "Boxer" Moran helped Fianna Fáil to defy the national trends, with poll-topping displays in both the town and county council, whilst Frankie Keena experienced a dizzying 57% increase in his first preference vote in Westmeath County Council. The party lost Kieran Molloy from the county council and Egbert Moran and John Butler from the town council, but welcomed Aengus O"Rourke to the urban body. In total, there were five new faces on the town council, with Shaw, McFadden and O"Rourke joined by independent Sheila Buckley Byrne and Labour"s Jim Henson Fine Gael held three on the county council, but saw John Dolan replaced by Gabrielle McFadden, who also made it onto the town council in her debut election. Across the Shannon, Fianna Fáil"s vote collapsed by 14.5%. However, thanks to the addition of an extra seat in South Roscommon, the party retained its two seats. However, there was a major personnel change in its ranks, with outgoing councillors Trevor Finneran and Anthony Geraghty being replaced by Paddy Kilduff and John Keogh. The real story in the Athlone electoral area of Roscommon County Council though was the phenomenal success of independents Tony Ward and Jimmy Kenny. Fine Gael took the two remaining seats through Ollie Moore and John Naughten. See Pages 6-12 for full election round-up