Will FF convince Phelim O’Neill to run?

Thu, Dec 18, 2008

After months of speculation, fretting, and mystery, it finally appears as if Fianna Fáil will have two candidates to stand in June’s Local Elections in Galway City West.

For a number of weeks, there was intense speculation that FF may end up having to run just one candidate. However it is understood that this evening, FF officials will meet with NUI, Galway law graduate and young businessman Phelim O’Neill, to convince him to run for the party alongside Peter Keane.

Will Libertas candidates add spice to Galway’s EU election campaign?

Thu, Dec 18, 2008

You can almost see it - an Irish politician scolding his bold child with the threat of ‘I’ll send you to Declan Ganley if you don’t behave yourself!’

SF candidate wants to bring City Hall ‘into the 21st century’

Thu, Dec 18, 2008

Martin Concannon will stand for Sinn Féin in Galway City East at the local elections in June and wants local government and how it operates to be “brought into the 21st century”.

What we achieved in Brussels

Thu, Dec 18, 2008

Last week the Taoiseach and I met for two days with EU leaders in Brussels. We discussed a series of highly significant issues for Galway, for Ireland and the European Union. These included climate change, an EU-wide economic stimulus package worth some €200 billion and the future of the Lisbon Treaty.

Is Fianna Fáil about to cast ‘The Stroke’ adrift?

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

Fianna Fail conventions will not take place anywhere in the west this year. HQ is still miffed at the scenes at the Galway West Dáil convention in 2006 and will not allow local democracy to flourish until the ‘serfs’ have learnt their lesson.

Galway to make the election poster extinct?

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

Back in the 1980s - an era we seem destined to relive given the economic downturn - you couldn’t watch children’s daytime TV without seeing what Oink! called “grinning loonies in hideous jumpers”.

When it comes to elections I’m often reminded of that phrase. Stuck on every lamppost and telegraph pole is the (airbrushed) face of an election candidate, grinning maniacally at you, and promising you the world in exchange for your Number One.

Blueshirt anxiety in Galway City East

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

While Fianna Fáil struggles to find candidates to run in Galway City West, the ‘auld enemy’ Fine Gael is having a similar problem in Galway City East.

However there is an important difference. While FF is finding it hard to convince people to run, Fine Gael is getting plenty of offers but is having trouble finding anyone it thinks is electable. For leading Fine Gaelers in the city, it’s the kind of situation in which the term ‘an embarrassment of riches’ could be misused.

Declan McDonnell declares his independence

Thu, Nov 27, 2008

Cllr Declan McDonnell will stand in the 2009 Local Elections as an Independent candidate in Galway City East, bringing to an end weeks of speculation as to whether or not he would join Fianna Fáil.

It could get dirty in Galway City East

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

Galway City East looks likely to become the city's most competitive - and possibly dirtiest - electoral battleground by the time votes are cast next June in the 2009 Local Elections.

Are Fianna Fáil afraid of winning seats?

Thu, Oct 16, 2008

Fianna Fáil has always understood the idea of gaining and holding on to power, but recent incidents would leave you thinking that self-preservation is now more important to them than controlling City Hall after the next local elections.

Candidates doing the splits in Oranmore

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

The trouble with the Oranmore electoral area is that it divides into a number of distinct areas. The three candidates left representing the people are clustered around the northern end in Turloughmore, Annaghdown, and Claregalway. Leaving three distinct regions Carnmore to Cold wood, Oranmore/Maree, and Clarenbridge without any representation.

Political football

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

What is it about soccer and Galway politicians? Terryland is so full of them that Galway United’s home ground could nearly be regarded as the ‘second council chamber’!

As you were for the Greens?

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

On Monday The Green Party unveiled its election team for the 2009 local elections - the first political party in Galway to do so. However the party look unlikely to make any increase on the one seat it secured in 2004.

Paul Osikoya breaks new ground again

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

Nigerians Paul Osikoya and Tokie Lotan broke new ground in Galway politics when they became the first non-nationals to run for elections to the Galway City Council in 2004.

Water crisis should force Galway to have a re-think

Thu, Oct 02, 2008

The lead drinking water crisis is the city’s second such crisis in a year. While we are told it is confined to specific areas, it is still a cause for concern because it has even more serious implications for public health than cryptosporidium.

Who will survive the race in Galway City Central?

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

In horse racing parlance it could be said that contenders are in the dip but have not turned into the straight yet and, in what has been forecast as the most competitive of all Wards, Galway City Central should prove to be the mother of all gallops.

Will Dana answer God’s calling and stand for Europe again?

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

Perhaps it says something about Irish politicians and the Irish public’s attitude to the EU that not one mention has been made in recent times of next year’s European Elections.

‘Status quo position’ on the economy and election strategies are ‘not acceptable’, Cowen tells Galwa

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

New strategies must be adopted on both the economy and in next year’s local elections as “the status quo position” and the old methods are no longer acceptable in the current climate. This was the message Taoiseach Brian Cowen delivered this week at his press conference in Galway.

Galway City Central is ‘ready made’ for a Quinn comeback

Thu, Sep 18, 2008

The new Galway City Central ward is “ready made for a Martin Quinn comeback” according to the former mayor who is seeking to be a Fianna Fáil candidate in the next local elections.

A rough guide to Galway City West Ward

Thu, Sep 11, 2008

The new local election ward of Galway City West - formerly and confusingly known as the South Ward - is located around Salthill, Knocknacarra, and the Claddagh. This ward now has a new section adjacent to Taylor’s Hill.

The sitting councillors are Donal Lyons (PD), Catherine Connolly (Ind), John Mulholland (FG) and Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green).

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