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.

It’s Galway East you have to watch

Thu, Jan 21, 2010

In the aftermath of last year’s local elections much attention has focused on Galway West and in particular on Fine Gael’s chances of gaining a seat there, but Galway East has been the subject of comparatively little attention.

‘...the point is to change it...’

Thu, Nov 12, 2009

What Ireland needs is a revolution, a revolution to clear out the deadwood, rid ourselves of failed ideologies that no longer work, and institute a new kind of society that is better placed to deal with the problems of today.

Fahey to meet EU officials to find agreement on outer bypass

Thu, Nov 12, 2009

A meeting takes place in Brussels next week to find a way to avoid conflict between the EU Environment Commission, the Irish courts, and local and national Government over the future of the controversial Galway City Outer Bypass.

Could FG overtake FF in Galway West?

Thu, Jul 23, 2009

The thing about elections is that political anoraks can never get enough of them. The locals are just over and already speculation is going on about who might run for which party in the next General Election.

No more cheap Viagra or Nigerian slushfunds for county councillors

Thu, Jul 23, 2009

County councillors will no longer be bombarded with offers of cheap Viagra or to have their bank accounts used to hold funds for exiled African princes, following the unveiling of their new secure email system this week.

An Bord Snip call to merge city and county council is illogical, say councillors

Thu, Jul 23, 2009

On August 1 1485, Pyerse Lynch was elected the first mayor of Galway city and his election allowed for the foundation of the Galway Corporation, now the Galway City Council.

An inside look at local politics – from the pens of the politicians themselves

Thu, May 07, 2009

This week Insider proposes to reflect on the plethora of so-called Independents who are campaigning for your vote on June 5. Many of these ‘new Independents’ are former members of the Progressive Democrats whose two remaining TDs - Dep Noel Grealish and Health Minister Mary Harney - continue to support one of the most incompetent governments in the history of the State.

The battle lines are drawn for June 5

Thu, May 07, 2009

The Government decision to combine the bye-elections with the Euro and Local elections considerably raises the stakes for all political parties on June 5. Voters’ verdicts will determine the fate of all party leaders and the timing of the next General Election.

‘Be nice to canvassers’ appeals Independent candidate

Thu, May 07, 2009

Given the deservedly low opinion in which the public currently holds the incompetent trio of Cowen, Lenihan, and Coughlan, it’s no surprise canvassers are having doors slammed in their faces - even if they have nothing to do with Fianna Fáil!

Don’t mix up the two Frank Fahys say Galway Fine Gael

Thu, May 07, 2009

There is Frank Fahey the Fianna Fáil TD, but there is also Frank Fahy the Fine Gael candidate standing in Galway City East in the June Local Elections.

Is the tide turning towards John Connolly in Galway City Central?

Thu, May 07, 2009

Galway City Central is not called ‘the Group of Death’ for nothing and in recent times there have been predictions that Fianna Fáil councillor John Connolly could lose his seat. However is that view starting to change?

Fianna Fáil and the art of shafting your own

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

For these local elections Fianna Fáil launched a new system of selection designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and an end to sitting councillors selecting below par running mates.

No room for Government error in banking policy

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

When historians in 2020 analyse our current politics, the most profound Government decisions will be those relating to our banks.

Fianna Fáil will not be enjoying St George’s Day

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

Today is St George’s Day, when the Anglican, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, and the Eastern Catholic churches commemorate the Syrian saint who famously killed a hideous, fire breathing, dragon.

Cracks emerge in FG strategy to win two City East seats

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

Fine Gael’s bold attempt to win an additional seat in Galway City East appears to be falling apart at the seams as one of the three candidates in the ward is being accused is failing to fall into line regarding the constituency divide.

Mayor describes school warden appointment as ‘bureaucracy gone mad’

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

City Hall having to write to the Minister for Finance for permission to appoint a school warden is “bureaucracy gone mad” according to the Mayor of Galway Pádraig Conneely.

At Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Conneely was informed by the council’s director of services Ciarán Hayes that in order to appoint a school warden to St James’ National School in Bushypark, the Galway City Council had to write to the Minister of Finance Brian Lenihan jr for permission.

Connemara set for a FF/FG showdown

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

With just over seven weeks to go until polling day the line-ups for the Local Elections in Connemara have begun to take their final shape.

The politics of pain

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Some political commentators have adjudged last week’s budget was a success because it avoided on-street protests. The October budget got pensioners and students out with placards. The February public sector income levy resulted in a large Dublin march. Politicians say the public response to the latest budget has been silence. This should be even more scary to Government backbenchers.

Good news - we are spared politicians’ faces until May

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Back in the 1980s I was a huge fan and avid reader of Oink! comic. It was like a children’s version of Viz, but where Viz is vulgar and boorish, Oink! was anarchic, witty, and had clever satire of society and politics in a way adults could also appreciate.

The back page was usually given to the diary entries of five-year-old Hadrian Vile in which he espoused his views on contemporary culture “to show us how cleva he reeely woz”. I will never forget his scarily accurate description of children’s TV presenters in the 1980s: “grinning loonies in hideous jumpers”!

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