Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have long dominated the politics in Co Kilkenny and there has been no change to that pattern following this year’s local elections.

With 24 seats up for grabs, Fianna Fáil took 11 followed by Fine Gael (seven), Labour (two) and Independents (two), with the Green Party and Sinn Féin each having one councillor elected.

There were no major upsets bar veteran Fine Gael councillor Martin Brett losing his seat in the Kilkenny electoral area.

In Piltown, his party colleague Mary Hilda Cavanagh was returned and will continue to build on her 50 years of unbroken political service. The grandmother puts her success down to keeping in touch on a personal level with people rather than using social media.

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“I’ve gotten to know three generations, even four generations of families. So I feel as if I have a personal relationship with my electorate,” she said.

She said the issues which stood out during the campaign were “immigration, the fear of unvetted people coming to live in an area, a lot of misinformation out there about what is going on, housing is a huge problem not just people being on the social housing list, but people not being able to afford build their own home”.

Elsewhere, the Fianna Fáil McGuinness family dynasty is still thriving, with Andrew, a son of TD John, topping the poll in the Kilkenny LEA again. His uncle Eugene McGuinness, who ran as an Independent, was also elected and has committed to running in the next general election against his brother, John.

Sinn Féin overstretched by running eight candidates and saw only one elected, Stephanie Doheny in Callan-Thomastown. Labour’s Seán Ó hArgáin was elected in Kilkenny city and Independent Maurice Shortall took a seat in Castlecomer.

Callan – Thomastown: 6 seats

Castlecomer: 6 seats

Kilkenny: 7 seats

Piltown: 5 seats

[ View 2019 Kilkenny County Council resultsOpens in new window ]

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