Timely talk on first KCC elections
Timely and topical with the 2024 local elections campaigns now in full swing, an upcoming talk on the first such in Kildare 125 years ago should fascinate local history and politics nerds, writes Brian Byrne.
The talk on 21 May will be given by historian Liam Kenny in O'Brien's Pub in Timolin, and is being hosted by the South Kildare Villages History & Heritage Group.
From Ballot Box to Council Chamber — Kildare’s first County Council Elections 125 years ago starts at 8pm, and all are welcome. As a committed local historian and also as a former journalist who covered the modern KCC for many years, Liam is well placed to present on the authority's foundations. And it won't be a dry affair, the speaker has a sense of humour which will likely draw out some of the storied political shennagins of the time. Apart from being the first elections for County Kildare, nationwide the 1899 poll was the first year that women had the voting franchise.
Elected county councils were established under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898 to replace the landlord-dominated grand juries as the bodies responsible for the administrative and financial management of their respective areas.
The first council elections were hotly contested along nationalist versus unionist lines and the results had Nationalists overwhelmingly dominating the councils in the part of Ireland that became the Free State and unionists in that which became Northern Ireland.
From Ballot Box to Council Chamber — Kildare’s first County Council Elections 125 years ago is a free event but donations towards the group's expenses will be accepted on the evening. Further information from southkildarevillageshh@gmail.com. 
