With support for Fianna Fáil in freefall and the party desperately clinging to its two seats in Galway West, the time is right for Fine Gael to land the killer blow and become the biggest party in the constituency.
Fine Gael stands on the verge of winning two seats in Galway West, something it has not achieved since 1982, but as ever, with an open goal in front of it, FG could still make a mess of things so candidate strategy ahead of next year’s election is vital.
FG will hold its Galway West Election Selection Convention in the Galway Bay Hotel on Sunday November 21.
It is likely that two candidates will be chosen by the delegates on the night with HQ possibly adding a third at a later date.
Sitting TD Pádraic McCormack looks set to be on the ticket, but who will follow?
The contenders are Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, councillors Brian Walsh, Sean Kyne (although he would only seek a nomination if Dep McCormack were to stand down ), Eileen Mannion, and Hildegarde Naughton. Also seeking nomination are Seosamh O’Laoi and Keith Stephens.
Sen Healy Eames is the best placed to win the nomination.
There are c600 FG members in Galway West with the largest party branches being in Maree, Oranmore, and Turloughmore. A
ll are located in Sen Healy Eames’ stomping ground and are certain to back her on the night.
This gives her a distinct advantage and could thwart the ambitions of Cllr Walsh. A McCormack/Healy Eames ticket is one where the two candidates are based primarily in the east of the constituency.
Cllr Walsh is also based here and this could harm his chances of being added.
However the fact that Walsh and Healy Eames are neck and neck in a poll comissioned by the party could also work to the Mervue man’s facour.
Were Dep McCormack not to run, Cllr Kyne would enter the picture and the ticket would probably end up being Kyne (to look after Connemara ), Cllr Walsh (to cover the city ), and Sen Healy Eames (to deal with the east of the constituency ).
As always in anything to do with Fine Gael in Galway West, the decision of Dep McCormack ultimately decides the fate of the party.
