CONSTITUENCY PROFILE: Longford/Westmeath

 

Longford/Westmeath

The constituency includes all of Co. Longford and all of Co. Westmeath (except for the former Devlin Rural District area, which is in the Meath West constituency, and which includes Delvin, Castlepollard, Collinstown, Whitehall and Clonmellon amongst others)

A map of the Longford/Westmeath constituency from the Constituency Commssion report 2017.

 

A map of the Meath West and Meath East constituencies from the Constituency Commssion report 2017, showing the part of Westmeath included in Meath West.

 

 

 

The national issues of health, housing, homelessness and childcare are as relevant her as anywhere else.

As a rural constituency, farming problems are also to the fore, particularly the difficulties farmers experience in securing a decent price for their products - whilst access to decent broadband ALSO remains a bugbear for many.

In Athlone, the ongoing issue of Defence Forces' pay and conditions is exercising large sections of the electorate and the future status of Custume Barracks itself is never far away from the surface.

Across the constituency, the need for a fair transition away from fossil fuels is a hot topic, given the significance of both Bord na Mona and ESB in the region.

This is particularly relevant in light of the imminent closures of both Lough Ree Power Station in Lanesborough in Longford and West Offaly Power Station in Shannonbridge in Offaly.

In Mullingar, there are specific issues relating to the town's commuter population and what the future holds for the former Columb Barracks site.

 

 

 

Peter Burke (Fine Gael)

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)

Sorca Clarke (Sinn Féin)

Joe Flaherty (Fianna Fáil)

Louise Heavin (Green Party)

Donal Jackson (Independent)

Anna Kavanagh (Independent)

Frank Kilbride (Independent)

Alan 'Budda' Mangan (Labour)

Gabrielle McFadden (Fine Gael)

Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran (Independent)

Dom Parker (Solidarity-People Before Profit)

James Reynolds (National Party)

Barbara Smyth (Solidarity-People Before Profit)

Robert Troy (Fianna Fáil)

 

 

One of the key elements to consider in this election is the fact that there has been no Longford-based TD in the last Dail, following the election of four Westmeath-based candidates in 2016.

In 2016, on tally figures, some 32.8% (effectively one in three) first preference votes cast in Longford went to Westmeath candidates, with Robert Troy alone attracting some 1,750. In contrast just 3% of Westmeath votes went to Longford candidates.

This time around there are six candidates from Longford and it would be a significant surprise if the focus on the need to ensure the county elects its own TD does not bear fruit.

Fine Gael is running three candidates, Peter Burke, Micheal Carrigy and Gabrielle McFadden.

Burke has had a significant national profile since the last election, McFadden has been a Senator whilst Carrigy polled well in the Longford local elections last time around.

If poll figures indicating a move away from the party materialise, the three-candidate strategy may end up spreading their vote thinly and leaving them depending on strong transfers. However, many observers believe there has to be a seat in the constituency for them although pre-election hopes within the party of a second seat may be fading away.

Fianna Fail opted for a two-candidate ticket – and not to put an Athlone-based entrant in the race.

Again, if the national party share of the vote of some 23% comes through, they will be very hard pressed to obtain two seats – their stated aim. However, they may well exceed that percentage here and local geography could also play in their favour. Robert Troy exceeded the quota on the first count in 2016. The party's Longford candidate Joe Flaherty is perceived to be in a stronger position than the party's Longford candidate in 2016.

Sinn Fein's standard bearer is Sorca Clarke, who actually lost her Westmeath County Council seat in last May's local elections.

However, given the polling numbers, she is clearly a serious contender to take a seat this time around particularly as the party's previous candidate Paul Hogan came close in 2016 at a time when the party secured just under 10% of the vote.

Kevin 'Boxer' Moran has been a junior minister for a large part of the last administration and his profile across the constituency is significantly higher than on the last occasion.

Greater name recognition and the absence of the Athlone-based Paul Hogan from the race may assist him on this occasion.

However, on the flipside, he may also suffer from any negative sentiment towards the outgoing Government. Furthermore, in 2016, the Independent Alliance, the banner which he then ran under, also fielded a Longford candidate, James Morgan, who provided over 1,000 transfers to Boxer when eliminated.

He will be hoping his work in South Longford can secure him first or high preferences to maintain a vote base outside Athlone.

Labour is running Alan 'Budda' Mangan who is bidding to replace the retiring veteran TD Willie Penrose and will be hoping his predecessor's strong work and reputation will stand to him.

His GAA credentials will help in name recognition, but Labour's national polling figures indicate he faces a difficult task.

James Reynolds represents the right wing The National Party in this election. He has a significant profile in Longford and will be hoping to capitalise on disenchantment with the political direction of the country.

His campaign team have also been active in Mullingar and Athlone areas.

Green Party's Louise Heavin was elected to Westmeath County Council in last year's local elections, with just under 600 first preferences.

The party also secured a council seat in Mullingar – and will be hoping that a Green wave can push them into contention for a seat.

Left wing Solidarity-People Before Profit are running two candidates, Barbara Smyth in Longford and Dom Parker in Westmeath. They will be looking for evidence of a swing to the left.

Also contesting are independents Donal Jackson, Anna Kavanagh and Frank Kilbride – who, according to the bookmakers, are outsiders for a seat.

The only thing worth saying with any degree of certainty is that this constituency is far more wide open that people anticipate.

Boyle Sports, as at 1pm (Thursday)

Robert Troy (1/20); Kevin 'Boxer' Moran (1/20); Joe Flaherty (1/8); Peter Burke (1/4); Sorca Clake (6/4); Micheal Carrigy (9/4); James Reynolds (11/2); Alan Mangan (9/1); Louise Heavin (11/1); Gabrielle McFadden (14/1); rest 100/1 or more.