Jimmy Horan, a community activist from Westside, has become the latest Independent to declare for the six seat Galway City Central ward.
Galway City Central is home to four of the Galway City Council’s biggest names - councillors Billy Cameron, Colette Connolly, Pádraig Conneely, and Ollie Crowe - and, with 12 candidates now declared, it is among the most competitive wards in either the city or county.
However Mr Horan feels the emphasis has so far been mostly on one section of GCC. “There are a lot of candidates based in the Shantalla and Newcastle area,” he says, “But there is no mention of Inish Annagh, Gaelcarrick, Corrib Park, Laurel Park, or Cherry Park. There are more than 2,000 people in these areas and these are the people I’m seeking to represent.”
Mr Horan does not subscribe to the view that city councillors have little or no power. Instead he feels a place on the council is an important means through which citizens can communicate their issues to both the local authority and the Government.
“Taxes have gone up €300, child allowance has been reduced by €33, we have no clear idea of where the money from the USC is going, and prescription charges have gone up fivefold since they were introduced,” he says.
“These may be national issues, but they affect people locally. On the council you have a means by which to highlight these issues and bring them to the attention of officials and TDs and articulate the concerns of ordinary people.”
Mr Horan is a former chair of the Corrib Residents and Tenants Association, the Combined Tenants Residents from Galway, and the Galway Taximan’s Association.
