Five Independents will stand for election in Galway City West for June’s Local Elections, however one of those candidates claims he is the only truly non-aligned Independent with no party past.
Aidan J McCabe will stand as an Independent candidate in Galway City West. He previously ran in 1991 as an Independent community candidate.
The 57-year-old teacher from Knocknacarra has declared himself “the only real Independent candidate as I am not aligned to any party”.
This is a clear reference to the fact that most of the Independents in the ward come from a party political background. Cllr Donal Lyons was in the PDs, Cllr Catherine Connolly was a former member of Labour, while Cllr Daniel Callanan used to be in Sinn Féin. AJ Cahill has acted as an advisor to a number of Independent TDs.
Mr McCabe said he is running because of the lack of facilities in Knocknacarra.
“Facilities are still not in place in Knocknacarra,” he told the Galway Advertiser. “We are still talking about a community centre for as long as I can remember. There is a lot of anger that we do not have a post office, a bank, a credit union - basic things like that. People are just fed up of it.”
Campaigning for such facilities will be the bedrock of Mr McCabe’s campaign. He is also concerned about the over-development of the area.
“We had to fight hard to retain McGrath’s field as a green space,” he said. “So many houses have been built but no facilities to go with them.”
Galway City West is home to such big names as Cllr Lyons, Cllr Connolly, and Cllr John Mulholland. It will be difficult for someone like Mr McCabe to make a breakthrough. He is not daunted by the task however.
“I think there is enough anger out there to change some of the people who currently represent Galway City West,” he said, “and maybe someone like me can represent them better.”
Mr McCabe will launch his election campaign on Monday April 13, upstairs in The Quays from 1pm to 4pm with music from trumpeter Johnny Carroll, The Galway Bay Jazz Band, Con Ward, and Fraggle Rock. Admission is €10.
