THOUGH strongly favoured to overtake Willie O’Dea as poll topper in the Limerick City Constituency in Friday’s election, Michael Noonan told the Limerick Post, that both he and Fine Gael, were taking nothing for granted.
O’Dea polled 19,082 first preferences in 2007, while Noonan recorded 7,507.
He commented: “We are a bit cautious because we polled very well right up until the last week in 2007, when we began to fade.
“I’m positioned to get a seat, but Willie would need to lose a lot of votes not to top the poll”.
According to O’Dea, it has been a hugely tough campaign.
“The situation is not helped by the latest poll – Fianna Fail down two points – if that is reflected here, we will be lucky to hold on to one seat – take a poll of 14% – that is only 7% of a quota”.
Kieran O’Donnell is confident of retaining his seat.
And Peter Power is not even contemplating being left out of the equation.
“I think both myself and Willie can be elected if Fianna Fail people vote strategically”.
Sinn Fein’s Maurice Quinlivan, is of the belief the fourth seat is open.
“With the exception of Michael Noonan, I don’t think there is a safe seat .
He claimed that a lot of people in working class and lower income areas will be swapping their vote over from Fianna Fail to Sinn Féin.
With Labour stabilised at 20%, Jan O’Sullivan remains upbeat.
“We’ve had a very positive response, and there’s a very good chance of a second seat”.
Quietly confident, Labour’s Joe Leddin said he is feeling very positive as he enters the home stretch.
‘I’ve been getting emails, cards and text messages wishing me the best. People want to see new younger faces on the doorsteps”.
Said Kevin Kiely: ‘I’ve been late into the campaign but I’m getting a very positive response. People are fed up with the mainstream parties”.
Other candidates in the city are Cian Prendiville, (Socialist Party), Sheila Cahill, (Greens), Denis Riordan, (Independent), Conor O’Donoghue, (CSP), and Matt Larkin, (Independent).
In the Limerick Constituency, Niall Collins, (Fianna Fail), Dan Neville, (Fine Gael) are seen as safe bets, with Patrick O’Donovan, (Fine Gael), John Dillon, (Independent), Bill O’Donnell, (Fine Gael) and James Heffernan, (Labour), seen as the strongest candidates for the third seat. Also in the running are Con Cremin, (Independent), Patrick O’Doherty, (Independent), Seamus Sherlock, (Independent) and Stephen Wall (Greens).
