‘Every cloud has a silver lining’, goes the old expression and even in these dark times for Fianna Fáil, a ray of light may just be emerging that could be to the future benefit of Cllr John Connolly.
Last week, there was speculation that Cllr Michael J Crowe is losing favour with the Fianna Fáil big guns who promoted him heavily during the 2007 General Election.
The reasons for this are not personal but political. The recent boundary changes to Galway city’s electoral wards saw Bohermore, College Road, Lough Atalia, and the city centre - Cllr Crowe’s heartland - moved out of Galway City East and into Galway City Central.
Crowe opted to stay in Galway City East but his base is gone and his core vote dramatically reduced. He now finds himself in a ward in which he has no natural base, which has dropped from seven seats to six, and where he faces tough competition from his party colleague Mary Leahy, Cllr Declan McDonnell, and Labour’s Derek Nolan.
Add to this that Fianna Fáil won only one out of seven seats here in 2004 - when there was a similar backlash against the Government - and that the public mood is anti-Fianna Fáil, and Cllr Crowe is facing a major uphill struggle to retain his seat.
Furthermore, it is understood that Noel Grealish is keen to put some distance between himself and Fianna Fáil. Given the opprobrium being heaped on FF at this time, it is a wise move. As a result, Dep Grealish is likely to remain as an Independent - certainly as long as FF are in the doghouse.
If Cllr Crowe falls by the wayside and Dep Grealish continues to evade capture by the Soldiers of Destiny, who would then run alongside Éamon Ó Cuív and Frank Fahey in 2012 (or earlier )?
Such a scenario may be the ‘golden opportunity’ for Cllr John Connolly to put himself forward as the ‘natural third candidate’. It would not be unrealistic, given that he put his name forward for nomination for the 2007 General Election.
He is also the ‘longest serving’ FF councillor of the current council - albeit because Cllr Crowe was an Independent and Cllr Leahy joined the council following the passing of her father.
However Cllr Leahy may be interested in running as well in 2012. Good performances by both herself and Cllr Connolly - especially in the current climate - would be further strings to their bow.
So, could the 2009 Local Elections be merely the first battle between councillors Connolly and Leahy for the right to run in the next General Election
