Local Elections: Kilkenny County Council
In the upcoming local elections, Kilkenny County Council will see a total of fifty candidates vying for 24 seats spread across four local electoral areas. In the previous 2019 elections, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael dominated the council with 20 out of 24 seats, while Labour, the Green Party, and an Independent candidate secured the remaining four seats.
Notable developments include Castlecomer-based Cllr Denis Hynes defecting from the Labour Party to Sinn Féin, and the co-option of Maria Dollard to the Green Party seat previously held by Malcolm Noonan. Independent candidate Eugene McGuinness, known for his opposition to a proposed mosque in the Hebron area, also secured a seat in Kilkenny City.
As candidates hit the doorsteps, key issues such as housing, agriculture, village regeneration, immigration, healthcare services, and the rising cost of living are at the forefront of voters’ minds. Three Fianna Fáil councillors are stepping down, opening the field for new faces to join the council.
The election will see a competitive race in each electoral area, with Kilkenny City having the most candidates vying for seven seats, followed by Piltown, Castlecomer, and Callan-Thomastown.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Local Elections and European Elections, and listen to the Inside Politics Podcast for in-depth analysis.
