The odds are against him and the pundits have written him off, but Green senator Niall Ó Brolcháin remains optimistic and is putting his money where his mouth is for the election.
Sen Ó Brolcháin has backed himself to win a seat in Galway West in March’s General Election. He has placed his bet with John Mulholland Bookmakers and any winnings will go to a local Galway charity.
Sen Ó Brolcháin said he wanted to take advantage of the “exceptionally generous odds” from John Mulholland.
“I don’t bet very often but I know a good deal when I see one,” he said. “When I was 1/6 on in the last General Election I saw no point in backing myself because the return was so poor. However, at odds of 25/1, I stand to win €1,250 for charity if I finish in the top five in a field of 12. Those odds are exceptionally generous as a small swing to the Greens will see me in with a fighting chance to take the last seat.”
The odds being offered on the chances for each of the Galway West candidates by John Mulholland bookmakers are: Ó Cuív (1/16 ), Grealish (1/10 ), B Walsh (1/5 ), Healy Eames (2/7 ), Connolly (8/13 ), Nolan (evens ), Crowe (5/2 ), Fahey (4/1 ), Naughton (6/1 ), Kyne (6/1 ), E Walsh (20/1 ), Ó Brolcháin (25/1 ), and Cubbard (33/1 ).
After Monday night’s dramatic economic think tank at the Clayton Hotel, John Mulholland has decided to push out the price on Frank Fahey to get elected from 3/1 to 4/1.
“Frank showed admirable courage under fire and performed well but the meeting reaffirmed that the anti Fíanna Fáil sentiment displayed in recent national opinion polls also prevails in Galway West,” said Mr Mulholland.
Mr Mulholland’s phone lines have been inundated with calls to back Joe ‘Anglo Avenger’ McNamara as he declared his intention to challenge Fahey at the ballot box. Substantial bets were laid at 20/1 and he is now a 10/1 shot to claim a seat.