Barring any late entries from the neo-fascist micro parties, it seems Galwegians will have 12 candidates to chose from in a by-election due within eight weeks, after Fianna Fáil picked its man last Sunday.
Victory went to Councillor Cillian Keane at Fianna Fáil’s Galway West by-election selection convention in Salthill last weekend, but it was comments by second-placed Councillor Máirtín Lee that stole the show.
Although he did not mention the Independent Ireland by-election candidate, and fellow Connemara-based county councillor, by name, there was no doubt among any of the 250 Fianna Fáil members present in the Galway Bay Hotel, that former Fianna Fáiler, Noel Thomas, was the target of Lee’s ire, when he addressed them from the podium.
“There’s no way we’re going to hand this constituency to someone who left this party,” he said, in the context of Moycullen/Oughterard having three by-election candidates – Senator Seán Kyne (FG ), Councillor Thomas Welby (Ind ) and Councillor Thomas (II ).
“We’re not going to hand this seat to someone who has shown disrespect to Fianna Fáil, and what this party stands for, and hand over all those votes - hard won, in the past, by Éamon Ó Cuív, in Conamara South and Dúiche Sheoighe [Joyce Country],” he added, to sustained applause.
Lee, a native Gaeilgeoir from Leitir Moír, urged the 166 voting delegates to select him, to win votes from Connemara’s 35,000-strong population, “as the city is choc-a-bloc with candidates,” but at the first count, he had 58 preferences, behind Oranmore’s Councillor Keane, with 72. Popular Galway City East councillor, Alan Cheevers, who admitted he had not put in “the months of canvassing delegates” Keane had, scored 36.
When Deputy Mayor Cheevers’ votes were redistributed, Maree-based Keane benefitted, winning the poll on 98, compared to Lee’s 65. There were three non-transferrable ballots, and no spoils. With very few city delegates present, compared to strong representation from Connemara and Oranmore, it was unlikely a city candidate would ever win the contest before a single vote was cast.
Keane’s selection for the by-election, expected on May 22, brings to 12 the number of candidates so-far confirmed for the seat vacated by the election of President Catherine Connolly last November.
“The work starts now,” Keane told the Galway West party faithful. The 25-year-old revealed he had previously withdrawn his candidacy at the last minute for Fianna Fáil’s 2024 general election convention, which controversially selected Gráinne Seoige, alongside John Connolly TD, but he now felt he had the confidence: “You create your own reality,” he said, in homage to the late Fianna Fáil spin doctor, PJ Mara.
A gang of young men present from UCD Fianna Fáil, a society Keane once chaired, whooped their encouragement. Fianna Fáil has not had two TDs in Galway West since 2011, yet there was a palpable sense of energy in Salthill at selecting such a young candidate. “I’m 25, and I’m only getting started,” Keane beamed.
“Spread the name ‘Cillian Keane’ everywhere you go,” rhymed Social Protection minister, Dara Calleary. The Mayo TD is Fianna Fáil’s director of elections in Galway. “If Dara Calleary can direct our candidate into the Dáil, we’ll give him the freedom of the city,” joked former city councillor, Val Hanley. No Mayo man has ever been awarded such an honour.
Opposition swipes
Former TD and minister, Frank Fahy, exhorted the gathered brethren to attend the annual 1916 commemoration at Eyre Square’s Liam Mellows statue on Easter Sunday: “We don’t want any other party claiming our legacy,” he warned; one of several digs at Sinn Féin on the night, including by Deputy Connolly, who lambasted the opposition party for voting against a €250 million package to alleviate fuel poverty.
Minister Calleary agreed: “even Sinn Féin’s maths are poor,” he said, in relation to TD Pearse Doherty’s calculations that the Government was making €30 million per week on fuel duty, when it is just €3 million, apparently.
Bohermore’s Senator Ollie Crowe saved his digs for Fine Gael, in relation to voting preferences at the by-election: “If we’re ahead of our colleagues in government, then we’re really at the races,” he predicted, adding that he was “fairly confident” the election would be Friday, May 22. His brother, city councillor Mike Crowe, enjoyed a Sunday evening pint during the convention, while colleague Councillor Josie Forde handed out pamphlets for Cheevers.
Fianna Fáil Secretary General Sean Dorgan and a communications official kept a low profile at the meeting, and it was clear the party was keen to avoid any suggestion HQ was influencing candidate selection. Rank-and-file unrest concerning Gráinne Seoige in Galway, and Jim Gavin for the presidency, still rankles.
County councillors spotted were Gerry King, Mary Hoade, and Sean Broderick, while retired TD Éamon Ó Cuív, and his wife Áine Ní Choincheannain, shook a lot of hands.
Loughrea’s Senator Sean Curley attended, and 27-year-old Galway East TD, Albert Dolan, received a cheer when news of his recent engagement spread. (He proposed to Ms Caroline Murphy, from Eyrecourt, three weeks ago. )
Now all eyes are on 25-year-old, first time county councillor, Keane. He hails from Maree, and holds a degree in Food and Agribusiness.
“I will contest this election on key issues, particularly housing, infrastructure and healthcare, and I look forward to engaging with the people of Galway in the weeks ahead, and giving it my all in this election,” he pledged.
Other candidates are Mark Lohan (SF ), Councillor Helen Ogbu (Lab ), Denman Rooke (PBP ), Councillor Mike Cubbard (Ind ), Orla Nugent (Aú ), Sheila Garrity (Ind ), Niall Murphy (GP ), and Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich (SD ), alongside Welby, Thomas, Kyne, and now Keane.
Funded by the CnM Local Democracy reporting scheme
