THE NEWCASTLE West electoral area has become the second district to fill all its seats, re-electing Fianna Fáil’s Francis Foley, Fine Gael’s John Sheahan, and Independent Tom Ruddle (FG).
All three sitting councillors were returned for another term on Limerick City and County Council without reaching the quota.
The latest announcement echoes a theme of no change in the district, with all six sitting councillors elected for another term.
Speaking to the Limerick Post after his re-election, Cllr Foley, a former mayor of Limerick, said that it had been a long few days, but “it was worth it”.
“I look forward to continuing my work on behalf of the people of the Newcastle West local electrical area, and I want to thank everybody for their support and for the kindness they showed me and my family over the last five years that alone over the last couple of months,” Cllr Foley said.
“I enjoyed my campaign, we got a great reception at the doors. And I’d especially like to thank my wife and my family for their support over the last number of years. And it’s great to be returned again for the fifth term.”
Returning councillor John Sheahan said he was “elated” to have been re-elected, and that he is “delighted to be able to represent my people again”.
“And a big thank you to everybody that supported me. I look forward to what will be a new phenomenon in the chamber now dealing with a directly elected mayor. The centre ground has held today, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael have had a good local elections contrary to what a lot of people told us about, so that was down to hard work of all the candidates,” Cllr Sheahan told the Limerick Post.
Fine Gael councillor Tom Ruddle said that he was “delighted” to get the number of transfers that eventually secured him a seat in the Newcastle West council chamber.
“But I was delighted I got a lot of transfers there to kind of get me off the line here today. And I must say, special thanks to the people who have helped me to achieve this great achievement, to represent the people of Newcastle West municipal district who supported me, and special thanks to my wife Marie, my son Andrew and my daughter Bláithnaid, who have been a great support to me, because without a family in this business, it will be very difficult to do, so look, I just I’m delighted,” Cllr Ruddle said.
The three join Michael Collins (FF), Jerome Scanlan (IND), and Liam Galvin (FG) in retaining their seats.
