A local Labour spokesperson says the party will do what it can to increase its representation across Carlow and Kilkenny.
In the 2019 Local Elections four were returned, two in each county.
But two years later Kilkenny’s Denis Hynes decided to instead join Sinn Féin and now this week, Cllr Will Paton announced that’s he’s resigned from the Party and has sought to become an Independent councillor for Carlow.
It means that as we head for the ballot box in June that there are just two Labour councillors potentially seeking re election – South Kilkenny’s Tomás Breathnach has already been confirmed, joined on the Kilkenny ticket so far by former councillor Seán Ó hArgáin and newcomer Andrea Cleere.
Seán is also Chair of the Carlow Kilkenny constituency branch of Labour and he’s been reacting to Cllr Paton’s decision to KCLR News’ Edwina Grace – hear what he had to say here;