Strong brand sees young Paul first over the Ballinasloe line

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Speaking in that unique east Galway accent of his, defeated FG councillor Michael Finnerty summed up the strength of the Paul Connaughton brand when he said to me afterwards “If young Conner-ton had only been named Sue or Seamus or Michael, but anything but Paul, I might have had a chance.”

Such is the strength of the Connaughton brand in east Galway politics — and when the Connaughton brand that swept Sinead to power some years ago, had the name Paul at the front of it, the latest incumbent to the Mountbellew political dynasty was on a sure road to success.

Spirit of late mother in Fahy’s mind as he tops poll

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Over the decades in which Michael Fahy has been the institution he is in Galway politics, one feature of the election counts in which he was centre stage was the presence of his mother May.

BALLINASLOE

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Electorate: 22,702
Total poll: 13,828

Total poll: 13,828

Drama at finish, but governor’s call came too late to save O’Rourke

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

It was just around teatime on Sunday when an entry worthy of any dramatic play took place. Through the doors of the tennis club count centre strode Michael D Higgins, walking with purpose up towards the side of the hall, covering a metre with each step, as the crowds parted like the Red Sea to let him through.

ORANMORE ELECTORAL AREA

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Electorate: 17,575
Turnout: 53.2 per cent

Turnout: 53.2 per cent

High Noone — victory for the man who came from nowhere

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

To opt to stand for Fianna Fail in his first election at a time of almost universal disdain for the party requires a certain amount of courage or foolhardiness. That Claregalway man Malachy Noone managed to pull it off, taking votes right across the Oranmore electoral area shows that perhaps element of both were needed.

Joy for Roche but Reilly loses out in end

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

What promised to be an interesting day for Tuam’s Tom Reilly ended in disappointment when he was pipped at the post for the last seat in the Tuam electoral area count.

TUAM ELECTORAL AREA

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Electorate: 31,011
Turnout: 61.2 per cent

Turnout: 61.2 per cent

Carroll not going in just to make up the numbers

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

It must have been the shortest term a councillor ever served. Just a minute after returning officer Breda McDermott confirmed that he had won the last seat on Saturday night, Liam Carroll’s first elevation was cancelled as news of the recount was announced.

Loughrea area results

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Electorate: 30,971
Total poll 18508

Total poll 18508

Doomsday, not Bloomsday for James Joyce and Class of ‘91

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

In the election count of 1991, three new bright councillors were elected onto Galway County Council. They beamed with pride as they marched into their first council meeting at the old Council chamber in the former County Buildings.

At that same count, a senior Fianna Fail councillor was devastated at losing his seat.

Past experience of loss spurs Mannion to victory

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Missing out by just 14 votes in 2004 made Eileen Mannion something of a pessimist at the count centre at the weekend. Although the tallies showed that she was well placed to take a seat in Connemara, she wasn't counting any chickens until it was confirmed, as a direct result of her experience last time.

CONNEMARA

Thu, Jun 11, 2009

Electorate: 30,414
Total poll: 16,760

Total poll: 16,760

‘A nicer man you couldn’t meet’

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

Following the tragic death of Kieran Cunningham on Wednesday morning, a feeling of sorrow and despair has spread across the city. A native of Claregalway, Kieran had worked full time for the last 18 months at the deli counter in Hughes’ supermarket in Claregalway. The east Galway man was the eldest of three children from Slievefinn. Friends and family have all been devastated by the news of his untimely death.

Hunt for killer begins after man stabbed in city centre

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

Gardaí have launched a wide-ranging investigation following the death of a young Claregalway man who was found with stab wounds in the city centre in the early hours of yesterday.

Callanan reveals our city councillors pocketed €2 million in last five years

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

Councillors have cost this city €2.13 million over the last five years while the mayoral transport is costing €209,000. It is time to call a halt to councillors’ expenses and abolish this “gravy train” system.

This is the view of Independent councillor and Galway City West candidate Daniel Callanan. He has upped the ante in the Local Election campaign by releasing figures showing the total pay, allowances, and expenses incurred by the 15 Galway city councillors over the past five years.

New balls please — Tennis club and Westside to be venues as future of councillors is decided

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

Galway goes to the polls tomorrow to elect 30 county councillors, 15 city councillors, and three MEPs, while Saturday and Sunday will be taken up with counts, elections, and eliminations.

Brutal killing takes shine off feelgood factor

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

There is nobody in this city or county who is not horrified by the senseless killing of young Kieran Cunningham just 100 yards from this office in the early hours of yesterday morning. Shocked by the needless rubbing out of the life of a man who by all accounts was a decent sort. His colleagues in Hughes Supermarket in Claregalway where he had worked on the deli counter for the past 18 months were shocked to the core at the news of his death and were sincere in their praise of him.

Galway student dies in Bali after drinking contaminated alcohol

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

It has been confirmed that the Irish woman who died in Indonesia after drinking contaminated alcohol was a final year engineering student at NUI Galway.

President to bid farewell to the Volvo Ocean Race

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

Following the electric atmosphere of the last 12 days, Let's Do It Galway, are asking as many people as possible to join in farewell festivities on Saturday to bid farewell to the Volvo Ocean Race sailors.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.