And with the last vote counted, that was it. The choices have been made and the composition of the local councils that will oversee our city and county is known. While many of the experienced councillors have retained their seats, there are plenty of new faces too, to create the ideal sporting blend of youth and experience.
At time of going to press, they are still counting in Castlebar across this ridiculous constituency they call Midlands North West. A plain of land that encompasses some of the most disadvantaged and the most lucrative areas of the country, thrown together for political expediency. The extremes of this constituency bear no relation to one another. The issues of one side of it are not the issues of the other side. One side has all forms of public transport. Another part has a few counties that does not even have a single train. But, then again, that issue will not be solved today or tomorrow.
To all of the winners, my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for the period ahead. The efforts you put in between now and June 2029 will have a massive impact on the way we live in the decades afterwards. At the moment, we face challenges in democracy, humanity and decency and it is to be hoped that when the next local election comes around, all three attributes will have been enhanced rather than weakened as they have been over the last eight years.
You have a responsibility to deliver on your election promises and while initially, the perception may be that you are concerned with pacts and coalitions to divvy up the lucrative committees and positions, when you retreat sated from the trough, you will see the bigger picture of what can be achieved if all sides work together to deliver what is needed for this city and county.
For too long, the behaviour in the chamber of Galway City Council was of beligerance and obstinence. Whole years went by with little achieved other than the egos massaged of some protagonists. And while that happened, the rest of the country laughed at our inability to get anything done. I think that this Council has the potential to be less spicy. Indeed, any spiciness that is being reserved for each other would be best used as a communal energy for the betterment of the city.
Galway has two new local authority chief executives; and now, it has two new councils. With the right approach, the wants of the city can be addressed, not delayed. I listened to one of the successful Connemara councillors at the count at the weekend say that all we can do is make life easier for one another. Everyone wants a simple life. The role of councillors is to enable that to happen.
To all who ran and did not succeed, my sympathies and my gratitude for having the courage to put yourself out there at the mercy of the electorate. I hope that the experience has not put you off public office, but has maybe emboldened you for another run at some stage in the future.
However, lest you not think that being a councillor is the only way you can serve in public office, think again. Every night of the week, there are thousands of people acting in the best interests of their community through voluntary roles in a variety of organisations and causes. These heroes don’t wear the red robes and march behind the city mace, but their work is perhaps a hundred times more effective.
It is time that Galway’s council matched the commitment of those who they honour in the volunteer awards every year.
We should be Galway — United.
We should make best use of the resources we have. Be open minded about transport and accessibility and equality of opportunity to enable everyone who lives, works and studies here to be the best version of themselves. To help shape a place that can be wonderful, if we just address the 15 or 20 issues that challenge the public every day.
And with that, the white flag drops. Let the work begin.
