Maxwell set to cost his former party a seat in west Mayo scramble
by CAOIMHÍN ROWLAND
Infrastructure in Westport has come under intense scrutiny in recent months.
Between the proposed greenway route from Murrisk to Belcare to the shelving of the Newport road to Mulranny, it’s an increasingly tense time for outgoing county councillors in the Westport electoral area.
Of those, the poll toppers from 2019 were Peter Flynn of Fine Gael and Independent Christy Hyland.
Due to the surge in support for non-party candidates, Hyland looks as safe as houses, but Flynn, once assumed to be in one of the safest seats in the county, has found himself in bother.
A vocal supporter of the greenway line that has seen protests, public walk-outs and national media attention, Flynn has been caught in the crosshairs.
He’s been leading the Fine Gael local election campaign and has often been critical of Mayo County Council, typically lambasting what he perceives as a misallocation of funds in the Mary Robinson Centre, Ballina, the velo rail in Kiltimagh and the council funding of Moorehall.
Flynn has an increasing threat from within his own party.
Keira Keogh has been running a good campaign and, as a well-known local businesswoman, she has name recognition in the tourist town.
Keogh also has the backing of Fine Gael establishment, regularly spotted with TD Michael Ring and MEP Maria Walsh while out canvassing.
Despite this situation, Flynn still hopes to lead Fine Gael into the council chamber where Fine Gael has not been in power for 10 years now.
Louisburgh will serve as a bell-weather area. Word is that there is a strong push from the west Mayo town to get a councillor elected.
Chris Maxwell, formerly with Fianna Fáil, briefly a standalone independent and now a card-carrying member of Michael Fitzmaurice’s Independent Ireland, will be their best bet.
He partnered Brendan Mulroy on the Fianna Fáil ticket in 2019, securing 899 first preferences, and his defection from the party could hassle Mulroy’s vote.
A mere 60 votes separated him from being elected five years ago, the last seat going to Independent Johnny O'Malley who, along with Mulroy, did not reach the quota of 1,695.
As one of three Independent Ireland candidates in Mayo, Maxwell has enlisted a double-decker red bus emblazoning his name and urging people to vote for him, a clever way to dance around the Westport poster debacle even if it is reminiscent of Boris Johnson’s infamous ‘Brexit Bus’.
Johnny O’Malley will be in the midst of Maxwell, as one of only two outgoing independents in the four-seater area.
O’Malley has been the most outspoken in his anger towards the greenway saga. Mulroy has also joined him in opposing the route which has caused controversy for potentially cutting through people’s farmlands.
Maxwell has been in support of the Threat to Belclare/Murrisk group, while Green Party candidate Peter Nolan is expectedly a strong supporter of extending the travel route out to Louisburgh.
O’Malley versus Flynn is the big ticket battle to keep an eye out on, bearing in mind Flynn has Keogh’s insurgency to deal with and O’Malley is facing an assault from Maxwell.
The two jousted on Midwest Radio over news that the N59 road upgrade from Newport to Derrada is to be shelved.
Council chiefs informed councillors of this development at their final meeting of term and the potential consequences could be damming for sitting members.
The announcement, essentially withdrawing tenders for the road, has some added confusion, with Peter Flynn stating Fine Gael TDs Michael Ring and Alan Dillon have confirmed the project will still go ahead.
Flynn will be unlikely to lose his seat, but Chris Maxwell looks to be the strongest Independent Ireland candidate to get over the line in Mayo.
His election would be at the expense of Fianna Fáil in Westport.
PREDICTION
Independents (3), Fine Gael (1).