Markham primed for 2014 local elections?

Aside from the four General Election candidates who were elected to ­represent Clare in the 31st Dáil, first-time Independent candidate Brian Markham gleaned most from last Friday’s vote.

The 23-year-old Kilmurry McMahon-Coolmeen man picked up a very credible 1,543 first-preference votes, which was 2.67% of the total poll of 58,495.
Of the 16 candidates, Markham, who only returned to Ireland last September after four years studying in London, was eighth after the first count.
Impressively, his first-preference votes was 389 ahead of established Green ­Party candidate, Councillor Brian Meaney.
In terms of where Markham picked up votes close to home, he won 75 first-­preferences at Coolmeen National School, 63 at Cranny ­National School, 81 at Drumdigus National School, where he attended primary school, and 23 first-preferences at Labasheeda National School.
What was equally impressive for a maiden candidate was the amount of transfers from candidates eliminated before him.
The question now for Brian Markham is how best to progress his political aspirations?
The next county council elections will be held in 2014 and if he stands he should be in prime position to win one of the six available seats in the Kilrush Electoral Area of Clare County Council.
Another question he may have to deal with is whether he would be better served to remain Independent or perhaps join an established party.
Of the successful candidates, Pat Breen picked up a very substantial vote in Kilrush, winning 686 of the 1,645 votes cast in the town.
The now three-time Fine Gael deputy picked up 41.7 % of votes cast in Kilrush town.
In the coming days, it will become clear if the Ballynacally deputy will be ­accorded a position of significance in the Fine Gael-led government or whether the fact he voted against Enda Kenny in the Fine Gael leadership contest will cost him.
Of the remaining West Clare candidates, John Hillery won 10.4% of the county-wide vote, while Gerry Walshe picked up a mere 0.56%. ­Kilbaha-based Jim Connolly received a respectable 978 first-preference votes, which translated to 1.7%.
Looking ahead three years to the local council elections, it will be interesting to see if additional youthful candidates join Mr Markham on the vote-seeking trail.