Electoral shift divides Kilcullen

Kilcullen will be divided in local election voting terms under the revision of the electoral boundaries recently announced.



The main thrust of the change as far as it relates here is that 'part' of Kilcullen is being shifted into the Athy electoral area, along with the townland of Gilltown and the Ballymore area.

Carnalway electoral area remains in Naas.

Although detailed plans aren't available yet, it looks like the Moanbane and Rogan Park estates will be voting for a Naas-based councillor, as also will be the right hand side of the town north of the river, including Logstown and Riverside Manor.

The Athy area part of Kilcullen will be voting for four seats, one extra compared to the existing situation. The three existing seats are currently held by Councillor Rainsford Hendy (FG), Councillor Martin Miley Jnr (FF), and Councillor Mark Dalton (FF).

The changes mean that Naas Area councillors who have been actively courting the votes of Kilcullen people, like Cllr Willie Callaghan (FF) of Naas and Cllr JJ Power (Green), lose much of the benefit of their work here.

The move also splits the base of local FG Councillor Billy Hillis, who loses most of his Kilcullen support as well as Ballymore voters. If he decided to run in the Athy area he would lose a strong cohort of votes from Blessington, half of which remains in the Naas Area. At the other side of the area, Francis Browne of Labour has shifted from Kildare to Athy and will likely be contesting for the new seat.

Brian Byrne.