Councillor joe hannigan says he will have a dance with political suitors

Independent county councillors in North Tipperary have this week given a lukewarm response to efforts to get them to join any of new political parties which are now in the process of being established.

As it becomes clear that four new political parties or alliances seeking new members could be established by the summer, local independent public representatives in this part of the country showed little appetite for immediately signing up  to any of the groupings.

While it has been reported that South Tipperary Independent County Councillor Richie Molloy (Clonmel) has revealed that he would give serious consideration to joining the new party about to be founded by former Fine Gael junior minister Lucinda Creighton, his counterparts in the north of the county – Hughie McGrath, Jim Ryan, Michael O' Meara and Joe Hannigan – have indicated no similar forthright signs of willingness to jump in with the emerging new entities.

Joe Hannigan was, perhaps, the most willing to at least consider a courtship with one or other of the emerging groupings.

He gave a rather colourful response when asked if he would consider joining an alliance.

He said: 'The girls are only arriving into the hall. . .I will have a dance with all the girls in the hall, but if I'm going to take a girl home I will have to consult with my supporters to decide which one will have the best dowry for my area.'

*see full report in this week's issue of The Nenagh Guardian. Pic show Joe Hannigan