Good morning. It's Micheal with you here on what looks like a pivotal week for democracy in Northern Ireland. There are plenty of questions and on Friday (or maybe even Saturday) we'll have the answers. Or then again, not! Newry and Armagh promises to be an interesting battle ground as Sinn Fein aim to keep their three seats. Gavin Malone smashed the last local elections, will he have the momentum – and the votes right across the constituency – to land one of those seats. Will Jackie Coade of Alliance make further inward strides in her quest? Laurelvale man Keith Ratcliffe of TUV has been making plenty of noise in this election campaign. Will William Irwin top the polls once more, or will David Taylor take those votes for the Ulster Unionists. Has Justin McNulty have it in him to top the polls in Newry and Armagh for the SDLP? Those are just some of the questions...In Upper Bann, Sinn Fein have put two candidates forward in a constituency unlikely – if history is anything to go by – to yield a second seat for the party but there may be a surprise unfolding. The DUP are strong here and Jonathan Buckley should come close to top spot but Doug Beattie is a strong voice for the Ulster Unionists – he is their leader after all/ There are three safe seats here; one for SF, UUP and DUP each. The DUP – Diane Dodds – should claim the second but that is not a given for the party this time around. Another strong voice is Alliance councillor Eoin Tennyson who will have genuine aspirations of winning here. Dolores Kelly will be looking to retain her seat at the expense of a second Sinn Fein seat but this could be an epic three-way battle for the final seat...Anyway, we'll wait and see. But get out and vote for the party and/or candidate that best represents you!
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A Battle Royale as elections loom large!
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Good morning. It's Micheal with you here on what looks like a pivotal week for democracy in Northern Ireland. There are plenty of questions and on Friday (or maybe even Saturday) we'll have the answers. Or then again, not! Newry and Armagh promises to be an interesting battle ground as Sinn Fein aim to keep their three seats. Gavin Malone smashed the last local elections, will he have the momentum – and the votes right across the constituency – to land one of those seats. Will Jackie Coade of Alliance make further inward strides in her quest? Laurelvale man Keith Ratcliffe of TUV has been making plenty of noise in this election campaign. Will William Irwin top the polls once more, or will David Taylor take those votes for the Ulster Unionists. Has Justin McNulty have it in him to top the polls in Newry and Armagh for the SDLP? Those are just some of the questions...In Upper Bann, Sinn Fein have put two candidates forward in a constituency unlikely – if history is anything to go by – to yield a second seat for the party but there may be a surprise unfolding. The DUP are strong here and Jonathan Buckley should come close to top spot but Doug Beattie is a strong voice for the Ulster Unionists – he is their leader after all/ There are three safe seats here; one for SF, UUP and DUP each. The DUP – Diane Dodds – should claim the second but that is not a given for the party this time around. Another strong voice is Alliance councillor Eoin Tennyson who will have genuine aspirations of winning here. Dolores Kelly will be looking to retain her seat at the expense of a second Sinn Fein seat but this could be an epic three-way battle for the final seat...Anyway, we'll wait and see. But get out and vote for the party and/or candidate that best represents you!