Minogue tops the poll after first count in Tuamgraney election

The first tally is in for the annual Tuamgraney Mayoral election and current mayor Ted Minogue is holding poll position following the launch event last weekend.

Four candidates announced they are running in the election campaign on Saturday night and they include Liam Furlong, a Tuamgraney native and former Finsa Products employee. He is also the current vice-chair of Tuamgraney Development Association. His campaign slogan is “a vote for Liam is a vote for the village”.

Ennis native, Frances O’Neill settled in Tuamgraney over 40 years ago and has also thrown her hat into the ring. She is involved in the carers group and is well known for the family business, O’Neills nurseries. Her slogan is ‘Frances who is up for anything’.

Anthony Dillon works at Clare Waste and Recycling and was born in London but visited Tuamgraney many times every year to visit family. He moved back to live there over 15 years ago and takes an active role in the GAA club, local fundraising and social activities.

Tuamgraney native, Ted Minogue is the current mayor. He runs Ted’s Fruit and Veg shop in Scariff, and will be fighting hard to keep the mayoral chain.

The initial voting sees him lead the charge, yielding 34.6% of the vote. Ted was closely followed by Frances O’Neill on 25%, Anthony Dillon on 21.2% and finally Liam Furlong on 19.2%.

Building on the successful 2012 Tuamgraney community weekend it was decided to hold a similar event incorporating a gathering theme for 2013 and it will take place from May 30 to June 3.

In keeping with this theme the community have extended an open invitation to Tuamgraney natives to pay a visit to the area. To date the committee has plenty of interest from overseas and with a number of confirmed visitors from Australia, America and the UK.

At the mayoral campaign launch in Hassett’s bar, Tuamgraney, the four candidates were introduced and put through their paces by Conor Daly MC.

The campaign is being hotly contested and the successful mayor will receive his or her chain of office on Sunday June 2.

Voting will be done differently this year and anyone attending a “Tuamgraney The Gathering 2013” event will be entitled to vote, with each event counting as a further vote so those who attend 10 events for example will get 10 votes. Polling stations will be located at Tuamgraney National School.

A cheque presentation of €1,000 was also made at the launch to the Tuamgraney Development Association to support them in their ongoing work to develop and keep Tuamgraney progressing into the future. 

Mary Cassidy, chairperson of Tuamgraney Development Association said the funds will go towards work being carried out on the Limekiln at Reddan’s Quay, and a footpath development to the community woodland and GAA field.

Also addressing the gathering at the weekend, mayor Ted Minogue spoke about his term of office, which took him to many functions and events including raising the Green Flag at the local school, opening Bernie’s shop in Scariff, seeing off Martin Kelly’s charity walk in aid of cancer and meeting President Michael D Higgins during his recent visit. He also spoke about the pride he felt being joint grand marshall for the 2013 St Patrick’s Day parade.

Events for the Gathering weekend begin on Thursday, May 29.