💾 Archived View for eir.mooo.com › nuacht › cilld17184816103.gmi captured on 2024-06-16 at 13:06:21. Gemini links have been rewritten to link to archived content
-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Niamh O'Donoghue, 15 Jun
With a week almost passed since the local elections, it's time to
reflect on the weekend that was - June 7, 8,9... on into 12.
The domination of the two O’Dwyer ladies in the Newbridge area was
phenomenal.
The Fine Gael tour de force duo hoovered up votes across the local
electoral area, prompting one tally member to compare Tracey O’Dwyer’s
vote securing machine to a Nilfisk!
With a jaw dropping 222 votes secured from one box alone in her native
base of Brannockstown National School, there was an audible exhalation
from those gathered around the tally HQ at the Curragh Racecourse last
Saturday when the figure was called out. Such domination in one box is
impressive.
With 90 candidates in the running for 40 Kildare County Council seats
across eight electoral areas, the tally was a mammoth task.
It was a cross party affair, which was being calculated right up to
9pm. Led by Páidraig McEvoy (Ind) and election expert DJ Moore, the
team fed in figures into spreadsheets while others gathered the
information with clipboards in hand.
The rented van pulled up outside the Curragh base throughout the
afternoon as gardai and count staff wheeled out the votes in black
lidded boxes to be transferred to the count centre in Punchestown.
The vans pulled out with a garda escort in tow, on its way from
racecourse to racecourse.
While the counting was underway, the horse racing theme continued as
the races coincided with the count.
The Punchestown pavilion, with it’s glass walled trackside view
provided the perfect spectacle of who the winners and losers were, both
on and off the track.
Racehorses sped by outside, with many nervous candidates standing by
inside for the final counts.
The spoiled votes provided a source of mirth with one voter plastering
smiley emoji stickers all over their ballot paper.
Some voters opted to provide multiple number ones, while others decided
to ‘x’ the boxes of their chosen candidates. Only ones, twos and threes
and so forth are valid. Some decided to inscribe their views on those
up for election, more bad than good! One person even wrote a letter.
Some even left the ballot paper blank, while others signed their name
beside their top preference.
These local elections only come around every five years and many of the
same faces turn up. You have the candidates, party colleagues, friends,
family, the media and political anoraks.
Some come laden down with flasks of coffee and tea, sandwiches, fruit
and bars of chocolate, knowing they could be in for a three day
marathon count. Some even brought their own table cloths and cutlery.
When someone comes with a box of refreshments, it’s a communal affair,
everyone digs in. It doesn’t matter what party or persuasion you are.
Pizzas and rolls are doled out. The caffeine and sugar are a must to
keep the energy levels up.
Children gathered around the centre, playing together. Some preferred
to sit quietly and read, equipped with their own deck chairs. Others
reveled in the excitement and gathered in huddles beside their parents.
Some candidates came away disappointed, others elated. It can be a
cruel, and joy inducing business in equal measure. With counts and
recounts, it ended up being a five-day marathon.