Kerry Independent Alliance

The Kerry Independent Alliance (Irish: Comhaontas Neamhspleách Chiarraí)[1] is a minor political party in the Republic of Ireland. It was established as the South Kerry Independent Alliance (SKIA) by former Labour Party members in the 1990s based in the Kerry South constituency.[2] Since 1999, it has only contested local elections in the Killarney area in County Kerry, and its only candidate has been Michael Gleeson, who was a Killarney town councillor from 1991 to 2014, and a Kerry County Councillor from 1999 to 2021.[3]

Kerry Independent Alliance
Comhaontas Neamhspleách Chiarraí
ChairmanJohn O'Donoghue
Founded1992
Split fromLabour Party
HeadquartersHigh Street, Killarney, County Kerry
IdeologyLocalism
Local government in the Republic of Ireland
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Gleeson was de-selected by the Labour Party as a candidate to contest the 1992 general election in favour of Breeda Moynihan-Cronin, which led to his leaving the party and later forming the SKIA with his supporters. The SKIA discussed a merger with the Labour Party in 2006, with Gleeson as the proposed Labour Party candidate at the 2007 general election, after Moynihan-Cronin announced her intention to retire from Dáil Éireann.[2] However, the talks failed, Moynihan-Cronin stood for re-election, and subsequently lost her seat.[4]

Michael Gleeson unsuccessfully contested the 2011 general election, again in the Kerry South Constituency.[5]

At the 2016 general election Kerry South was merged with most of Kerry North–West Limerick to create a new Kerry constituency, as a result the party changed its name to the Kerry Independent Alliance. In January 2016, the party decided not to contest the February election; Radio Kerry said this was due to Gleeson's work commitments,[6] while The Irish Times said he expected a second election later in the year when brighter evenings would make canvassing easier.[7]

In May 2021, Michael Gleeson retired from politics and was replaced on Kerry County Council by his nephew John O'Donoghue.[8]

References
  1. "Nuacht an Deiscirt: Ó Gliasáin neamhspleach". RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. 13 July 2015.
  2. O'Mahony, John; Keohane, John (6 April 2006). "Gleeson blasts leak but merger is still on". The Kingdom. Cork. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  3. "ElectionsIreland.org: Michael Gleeson". electionsireland.org.
  4. "ElectionsIreland.org: 30th Dail - Kerry South First Preference Votes". electionsireland.org.
  5. "Michael Gleeson – Kerry South Candidate". The Journal.ie. February 2011.
  6. "Michael Gleeson opts not to run in Kerry in general election". Radio Kerry. 15 January 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  7. "Kerry councillor opts not to run as he expects second election". The Irish Times. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  8. "Cllr John O'Donoghue formally co-opted onto Kerry County Council". Radio Kerry. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
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