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John Muldoon, who is expected to win his 200th cap for Connacht when they face Cardiff in Arms Park this evening, says the province’s new crop of youngsters are keeping him on his toes.

By Linley MacKenzie

Galway West TD Brian Walsh has paid tribute to Fine Gael Cllr Jarlath McDonagh following his announcement that he will retire from politics at next year’s local elections.

This Saturday evening in Semple Stadium (6pm) the Galway U21 hurlers will take on a high flying Clare outfit in the All-Ireland semi-final.

On Tuesday evening the Dail voted at second stage on the Protection of Life in Pregnancy Bill (2013). As expected four of our Fine Gael TDs (Peter Matthews, Brian Walsh, Billy Timmins and Terence Flanagan) very courageously voted against the Bill. Next week, I, too will vote against the abortion bill. More FG colleagues are expected to follow in the coming days.

Brian Walsh’s expulsion from the Fine Gael parliamentary party, and possible expulsion from the party proper, could pave the way for former Mayor Hildegarde Naughton to become the FG candidate in the city at the next General Election.

Brian Walsh has become the third member of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party and the second Galway West politician to declare he will vote against the forthcoming Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill.

As has now become tradition, the second last full meeting chaired by the outgoing Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council packs up from the chamber in Áras an Chontae in Castlebar and hits the road to the home town or village of the outgoing Cathaoirleach. On Monday this week, the community centre in Ballyglass was the setting for the May meeting of the council, the home village of Cathaoirleach Cllr Cyril Burke.

Brian Walsh knows his political career could come to a premature end over his stance on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, yet he is adamant he is doing “what I believe is right, ahead of political gain”.

Following a long day of presentations and contributions, the 2013 annual budget for Mayo County Council was adopted with little fuss on Monday evening in Castlebar. The only major change to the adopted budget, which was proposed by Fine Gael whip Cllr Joe Mellett and seconded by Fianna Fáil whip Cllr Micheál McNamara from the draft one that was presented to the members, was the need to find an extra €70,000 to fund some extra projects and to make up a €40,000 shortfall in the fire service budget when the members refused to increase the call out charge for the service from €150 to €200.