Labour to run two in Galway West

Thu, Jun 24, 2010

If Michael D Higgins runs in the next General Election he will do so with a running mate as Labour look set to run two candidates in Galway West.

Enda Kenny - man of steel?

Thu, Jun 17, 2010

“Power never takes a back step - only in the face of more power,” said Malcolm X and his words are apt to describe what is happening in Fine Gael at the moment.

Will Enda Kenny have enough power on his side to force back Richard Bruton and his allies, or will the momentum be with ‘the pretender’ and force the Mayoman off his perch?

Political football - politics and the World Cup

Thu, Jun 17, 2010

The beautiful game and the world’s second oldest profession have often collided, colluded, and clashed on the big stage of the World Cup, so as the current tournament continues in South Africa, Talking Politics takes a politically slanted look at the competition’s history.

Uruguay 1930: Uruguay hosted and won the first World Cup. In recognition of the national team beating Argentina 4-2 in the final, the Uruguayan government declared the day after a public holiday and gave each of the team players a new house.

Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it infamy...

Thu, May 27, 2010

Insider is sure that all City Councillors had a right good old chuckle after reading Councillor Padraic Conneely’s letter to the editor in last week’s edition of this publication alleging that the Insider was running a vendetta against him. Conneely, long time master of the media seems to have a problem with anonymity.

Who will make it onto FG’s Galway West election ticket?

Thu, May 06, 2010

It is almost 30 years since Fine Gael last won two seats in Galway West and the party has never come close to repeating that success in any election since those lofty days of the early 1980s.

Labour can do better than a partnership with Fine Gael

Thu, Apr 29, 2010

With all the recent trade union conferences taking place in Galway, plus Labour’s annual congress, you could be forgiven for thinking our city is a socialist Mecca. However, can you remember when the last May Day demonstration happened here?

Insider can’t remember either. In other towns, the May Day march is organised by the local trades’ council. Alas, the Galway variety is a rather sad outfit. Controlled by a cabal of full-time union officials and Labourites – its celebration of the international workers’ day usually consists of a hastily organised public meeting. But this year of all years – with workers under attack like never before – it is doing nothing!

Let’s have a live debate in Galway

Thu, Apr 29, 2010

The live TV leadership debates in Britain have captured the public imagination, catapulted Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg into the spotlight, and are influencing the course of the general election.

The verdict on our county councillors

Thu, Apr 22, 2010

Insider has often commented on what he sees as the faults and failings (and occasionally virtues) of the individual city councillors, but it is time he turned his attention onto the 30 members of the Galway County Council.

Labour - is there life after Michael D?

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

The Labour Party holds its annual conference in Galway this weekend, so Insider thought it worthwhile to take a closer look at Galway’s political alternative.

Galway should honour its ‘native son’ Che Guevara

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, the Argentine who was a key member of the Cuban revolution, and one of the most potent and romantic icons of change and courage, should be celebrated and formally acknowledged by the city of Galway.

This is the view of Labour councillor Billy Cameron who is calling for such a project to be explored in the week that the Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, her excellency Teresita Trujillo, visits Galway city.

Galway should honour its ‘native son’ Che Guevara

Thu, Apr 15, 2010

Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, the Argentine who was a key member of the Cuban revolution, and one of the most potent and romantic icons of change and courage, should be celebrated and formally acknowledged by the city of Galway.

We need to change our mindset, not just the political system

Thu, Apr 08, 2010

“We cannot fix the economy without fixing the political system as well,” is a familiar refrain in Irish political discourse these days. The calamity of the economic collapse and the role of the political and associated systems in bringing it about, or at least in failing to act to prevent it, have focused minds on this matter.

Crowe replies to Insider’s ‘hard hitting’ criticism

Thu, Apr 01, 2010

Sitting down in Crowe’s Bar last Thursday morning having the tae when a voice over my shoulder said, “Lord MJ you must be a threat to someone when they’re writing that stuff about you!”

TDs pledge loyalty to Cowen - for now

Thu, Apr 01, 2010

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is a political dead man walking and while Galway’s four Fianna Fáil TDs have all pledged their support to him, it seems the Galway East TDs feel his leadership will only last until the end of the next General Election.

City council is more mature, less dysfunctional than before

Thu, Mar 18, 2010

Green Senator Niall Ó Brolcháin recently described the Galway City Council as being a dysfunctional institution and in the aftermath received a tongue lashing from certain councillors for what was seen as an unwarranted attack.

Labour young guns let down by mistakes of elder lemons

Thu, Mar 11, 2010

As we approach the first anniversary of this current council, Insider has been observing the workings of the largest party in City Hall, the Labour Party. Labour got a very strong endorsement from the people of Galway city in last year’s locals, returning with effectively six seats, if you include Independent Catherine Connolly.

A complete sham and a charade

Thu, Feb 18, 2010

Insider has to ask ‘Has Fine Gael councillor Hildegarde Naughton fallen for this charade?’ Maybe by this stage, she’s figured it out. If she hasn’t, somebody close to her, who has been around for a while will hopefully have pointed it out.

Should Galway arrest Bertie?

Thu, Feb 18, 2010

Bertie Ahern was the “Teflon Taoiseach” from 1997 to 2008. He was nearly impossible to dislike, the ordinary Joe you could enjoy a pint of Bass with in the local boozer, the right man to lead us through the good times.

To Hell or Commies — Hail the People’s Republic Of Connacht?

Thu, Feb 18, 2010

Communism as a major political force in Europe may have disappeared with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, but, as someone once said about another organisation, ‘They haven’t gone away you know’!

Between the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the end of the Cold War, there were always suspicions of “Reds under the bed!” and some people thought they could see them everywhere.

There’s something fishy going on

Thu, Jan 28, 2010

The dogs in the street know there is no love lost between Minister Éamon Ó Cuív and Dep Frank Fahey TD, but at a meeting last year in Ros a’Mhíl even the fish in the sea got wind of the animosity when local FFers feared blows might be exchanged between the two heavy hitters.

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