The battle lines are drawn for June 5

Thu, May 07, 2009

The Government decision to combine the bye-elections with the Euro and Local elections considerably raises the stakes for all political parties on June 5. Voters’ verdicts will determine the fate of all party leaders and the timing of the next General Election.

‘Be nice to canvassers’ appeals Independent candidate

Thu, May 07, 2009

Given the deservedly low opinion in which the public currently holds the incompetent trio of Cowen, Lenihan, and Coughlan, it’s no surprise canvassers are having doors slammed in their faces - even if they have nothing to do with Fianna Fáil!

Don’t mix up the two Frank Fahys say Galway Fine Gael

Thu, May 07, 2009

There is Frank Fahey the Fianna Fáil TD, but there is also Frank Fahy the Fine Gael candidate standing in Galway City East in the June Local Elections.

Is the tide turning towards John Connolly in Galway City Central?

Thu, May 07, 2009

Galway City Central is not called ‘the Group of Death’ for nothing and in recent times there have been predictions that Fianna Fáil councillor John Connolly could lose his seat. However is that view starting to change?

Fianna Fáil and the art of shafting your own

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

For these local elections Fianna Fáil launched a new system of selection designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and an end to sitting councillors selecting below par running mates.

No room for Government error in banking policy

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

When historians in 2020 analyse our current politics, the most profound Government decisions will be those relating to our banks.

Fianna Fáil will not be enjoying St George’s Day

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

Today is St George’s Day, when the Anglican, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, and the Eastern Catholic churches commemorate the Syrian saint who famously killed a hideous, fire breathing, dragon.

Cracks emerge in FG strategy to win two City East seats

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

Fine Gael’s bold attempt to win an additional seat in Galway City East appears to be falling apart at the seams as one of the three candidates in the ward is being accused is failing to fall into line regarding the constituency divide.

Mayor describes school warden appointment as ‘bureaucracy gone mad’

Thu, Apr 23, 2009

City Hall having to write to the Minister for Finance for permission to appoint a school warden is “bureaucracy gone mad” according to the Mayor of Galway Pádraig Conneely.

At Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Conneely was informed by the council’s director of services Ciarán Hayes that in order to appoint a school warden to St James’ National School in Bushypark, the Galway City Council had to write to the Minister of Finance Brian Lenihan jr for permission.

Connemara set for a FF/FG showdown

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

With just over seven weeks to go until polling day the line-ups for the Local Elections in Connemara have begun to take their final shape.

The politics of pain

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Some political commentators have adjudged last week’s budget was a success because it avoided on-street protests. The October budget got pensioners and students out with placards. The February public sector income levy resulted in a large Dublin march. Politicians say the public response to the latest budget has been silence. This should be even more scary to Government backbenchers.

Good news - we are spared politicians’ faces until May

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Back in the 1980s I was a huge fan and avid reader of Oink! comic. It was like a children’s version of Viz, but where Viz is vulgar and boorish, Oink! was anarchic, witty, and had clever satire of society and politics in a way adults could also appreciate.

The back page was usually given to the diary entries of five-year-old Hadrian Vile in which he espoused his views on contemporary culture “to show us how cleva he reeely woz”. I will never forget his scarily accurate description of children’s TV presenters in the 1980s: “grinning loonies in hideous jumpers”!

What are the odds on Joe Reilly in the Euros?

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

With Declan Ganley, fairly well known MEPS like Sean Ó Neachtain, Jim Higgins, and Marian Harkin, and journalist Susan O’Keeffe all competing for EU seats in the North West, it’s little wonder this constituency is shaping up to be the most watched of the European contests.

Connolly defends her attendance record in face of column allegations

Thu, Apr 16, 2009

Labour councillor Colette Connolly has refuted allegations regarding her attendance at meetings as “appalling and totally untrue..”

New faces to hold on in June?

Thu, Apr 09, 2009

The 2004 Local Elections heralded sweeping changes on the Galway City Council - eight new faces, two new parties in Sinn Fein and the Greens, and a new alliance to control the election of Mayor.

Enda Kenny - Taoiseach apparent?

Thu, Apr 09, 2009

Is Enda Kenny Taoiseach material? His critics, especially those in Fianna Fáil, want to make his leadership the central issue in the next election. They perceive he is the Achilles’ heel of FG and believe voters will baulk at a change of government with him as leader.

Hi Noone — Fianna Fáil chooses popular Claregalway man to contest locals

Thu, Apr 09, 2009

When Cllr Mary Hoade chose to run in the Tuam ward, the race was on to find her replacement in Oranmore, a race made all the more urgent by a confident Fine Gael and resurgent Labour.

Galway politicians will have to spend less on their election campaign this time around

Thu, Apr 09, 2009

Galway politicians will have to run their campaigns on a tighter budget than before as this year’s Local Elections will see spending limits applied to candidates and parties for the first time.

This week, the Minister for the Environment John Gormley outlined the new spending limits at local elections, which came into force this week.

Galwegian becomes youngest ever chair of a political party

Thu, Apr 09, 2009

Salthill man Andrew Murphy has become the chair of the Green Party National Executive Committee, the youngest person ever to hold such a position in Ireland.

The 22-year-old is the campaign manager for Green councillor Niall Brolcháin. Cllr Ó Brolcháin has welcomed Mr Murphy’s appointment saying it demonstrates the Greens’ commitment “to ensuring Ireland’s youth have a major role to play in politics”.

Val Hanley finally gets on FF ticket

Thu, Apr 09, 2009

First he was, then he was not, then he was again - Val Hanley’s Lanigan’s Ball style efforts to get on the Fianna Fáil ticket for Galway City West, finally paid off this week.

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