The Mayo News - 22nd May 2002

From www.castlebar.ie

Local Papers Commentary
The Mayo News - 22nd May 2002
By Neasa McGarrigle
May 23, 2002, 20:24

Economic relief for Castlebar
Despite the several economic blows Castlebar has suffered in the past while, the future looks bright for the economy in the area. Three business parks are being constructed in the town. Two will be situated in Moneen and one at the old Castlebar Airport. The Airport Business Park will be completed in the next three months; it will include 812 parking spaces for employees. Mr. Conlon, Regional Director for the IDA, thinks that the business parks are excellent but that Castlebar needs to improve on its infrastructure.

How the candidates performed
In last Friday's general election the following were the total of first preference votes for each candidate:
Michael Ring (Fine Gael) - 9,880 (15.6%) ELECTED
Dr. Jerry Cowley (Independent) - 8,709 (13.7%) ELECTED
Beverley Cooper-Flynn (Fianna Fáil) - 6,661 (10.5%) ELECTED
Dr. Tom Moffatt (Fianna Fáil) - 6,536 (10.3%)
John Carty (Fianna Fáil) - 6,457 (10.2%) ELECTED
Jim Higgins (Fine Gael) - 5,858 (9.2%)
Enda Kenny (Fine Gael) - 5,834 (9.2%) ELECTED
Frank Chambers (Fianna Fáil) 5,726 (9%)
Ernie Caffrey (Fine Gael) - 2,290 (3.6%)
Vincent Wood (Sinn Féin) - 2,085 (3.3%)
Michael Holmes (Independent) - 1,754 (2.8%)
Billy Heffron (Progressive Democrats) - 919 (1.5%)
Anne Crowley (Green Party) - 669 (1.1%)
Tom King (Independent) - 102 (0.16%)

Dramatic comeback sees Kenny survive
Last Friday's Mayo count was the most dramatic in years, especially so for candidate Enda Kenny. It was neck and neck between Kenny and Jim Higgins but gradually Higgins inched ahead of Enda Kenny and it was looking like Kenny would lose his seat in the Dáil for definite. Kenny was 393 votes down on Jim Higgins when Frank Chambers was eliminated and it looked as if Kenny would be eliminated next when things took an unexpected turn. It seemed unlikely that Kenny would receive enough votes from a Fianna Fáil candidate to bridge the gap between him and Jim Higgins, but the impossible occurred. Kenny received 600 votes while Higgins only gained 120, leaving Kenny 87 votes ahead of his opponent which lead to his election into the Dáil.