Tuam has increased its natural hinterland on the west and may have lost some wise councillors on the east. The change was a natural alignment on paper by bringing the East Galway regions of the Oranmore electoral ward into the Tuam ward, while adding to the hinterland of Ballinasloe town.
However it could also see the revival of an old clan. The reintroduction of the Headford hinterland creates a region south of Tuam town that was once the heartland of the great political wizard ‘Markeen’. Surely now more than ever it is time to reawaken the political career of his son Donagh Killalea.
Imagine for one moment if Mary Hoade opts for Oranmore. She could herald the rebirth of the Killilea dynasty. Politics as we know it throws up some unusual circumstances. Mary Hoade’s bad luck at the 2006 convention in Galway West brought the chance to bring Cllr Michael J Crowe into Fianna Fáil.
Due to the Budget fall out Noel Grealish may delay his entry into FF and could drive Jim Cuddy into being an Independent. This move would leave Hoade running in Oranmore and leave the chance for the return of a Killilea. Perhaps he could be the one shining star on a dark night for Fianna Fáil.
Alternatively it could be the rebirth of Paddy McHugh if Fianna Fáil is not ruthless enough. Two chances of that happening, so it’s “Bye bye Paddy”. The curse of crossing the Kitts will follow you beyond your political grave
Speaking of which Eamon, a former school principal in Ballinderry, is believed to be looking to get a run. So let’s look at the ticket Kitt, Killalea, Reilly, and possibly Michael Connolly.
The geographical gap for Fianna Fáil is to the east of Tuam. A candidate who can sweep from Milltown to Ballymoe and down to the border with Moylough/Mountbellew and across to Killererin will win at least one quota.
Connolly has worked this area well but he shares it with the Independent Fianna Fáil’s Sean Canney. Connolly is said to be getting out both sides of the bed these mornings in order to test which side will get him the most votes. It could be the election to be an Independent Fianna Fáil candidate and Canney may hold all the aces unless his brother-in-law Paddy McHugh goes against him and splits the vote.
Tom Reilly as the Tuam town candidate is a guaranteed council seat with the town vote behind him. That is unless FF HQ shaft him by drafting in a young woman to run in the town.
Most likely at this stage though is that Hoade will run here along with Eamon Kitt and Tom Reilly. The struggle to find a fourth running mate will start when Connolly picks a side, but given that he avoided doing that during the General Election don’t rule out his trying to run in both Tuam and Ballinasloe.
Tuam town often fails to elect its fair share of representatives and it is here Fine Gael may find an ability to wrestle an unthinkable four out of seven seats.
If the ‘Blue Tsunami’ outlined in recent polls transpires in the Tuam electoral area we could see a near Fianna Fáil wipe out. Michael Carey will come in from Headford as a sitting councillor combined with Tom McHugh - on a high from his remarkable showing in the General Election - with the other sitting councillor Tiernan Walsh ideally situated in Williamstown.
This leaves a fourth well placed candidate to be found. Two GAA options are an obvious Corofin figure, yes Ray Silke, Insider means you, or else Pete Warren, a good Tuam Stars candidate. Warren is no stranger to making selections and could prove a transfer friendly candidate in this football mad region.
However Silke and Warren be warned. While many point to the Donnellan success for Fine Gael no one dares mention the showing of Sean Purcell (RIP ). All of this presumes that Paul Connaughton jr will opt for the Ballinasloe area to replace his sister on the Galway County Council and lay his foundation stone there for the next general election.
Many people forget the strong showing of the PDs here on the last occasion as well as the strong performance by Colm Keaveney in winning Labour’s sole county council seat. With Labour riding high and Eamon Gilmore putting in very credible performances, Keaveney is a dead cert. Let’s hope he can stay in the party long enough!
Following the passing of the late Joe Burke, his replacement was Seamus Quinn who combined with Pat Gilmore got just short of Labour’s vote in the last locals. However poor transfers cost the PDs that seat.
Those votes are likely to go to Fine Gael which pushes Fine Gael well over three quotas based on the last election count. Combine the Tom McHugh factor with a national swing to Fine Gael and you’re nearing four Fine Gael and one Labour, with a possibility that Tom Reilly will be the sole FF representative.
Sean Canney, if he runs, would hold onto the Independent seat. However if Paddy McHugh runs, anything could happen and you may even see Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil fighting for the last seat.
Tuam is going to be interesting no matter what. We could be seeing at least two councillors leaving and two councillors entering. By the end of the first count Insider suspects a lot of soldiers of destiny could be heading for the count centre exits.
