Clare Fm - Podcasts

There were contrasting pictures in the counts for the Shannon and Killaloe Local Electoral Areas over the weekend. South-east Clare has seen a considerable shake-up with familiar faces departing and new ones being ushered in while in East Clare, continuity was the word on everyone's lips. A very different-looking Shannon Municipal District will be representing the region over the next five years as a result of how its electorate voted on Friday. It was certain that at least two new faces would be elected there following the retirements of Councillors Pat "Mace" McMahon and Gerry Flynn. Although Pat "Mace" won't be on the scene, Newmarket-on-Fergus residents can rest easy that they'll have a representative for the foreseeable future. First-time candidate David Griffin caused a massive upset by securing over 1,500 first preference votes, thus electing him on the first count. The 28-year-old Fianna Fáil councillor-to-be says he couldn't possibly have predicted such a positive reaction on his first time out