Attention: Comrade shafting in progress!

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

If you thought it was just the Civil War parties, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who have an ability to shaft their own, think again.

The Labour Party is every bit as good at sticking the knife into the backs of their Comrades.

We refer of course to the elbowing of City Councillor, Colette Connolly.

She isn’t flavour of the month with Labour’s old-boys’-club in Galway . . . and so she’s getting shafted.

Rather than protect the five seats they have, Labour is dicing with death by selecting an additional candidate who could do damage to one sitting Councillor in the Central Ward.

Labour would argue that a third candidate will shore-up the existing vote and ensure they hold two seats.

Fair enough, but why then add John McDonagh, chair of Shantalla Residents Association, to the ticket? A good candidate, no doubt, but did Labour really need another candidate in Shantalla, Collette’s stomping ground?

You’ll notice, too, that no extra candidate is being added in the West Ward, where City Councillor Niall McNelis must have threatened the nuclear option – to resign and go independent – if the hierarchy imposed a second Labour candidate. If Colette threatened that, she’d be pushing an open door.

Over in the East Ward, Tom Costello has retired leaving under-pressure sitting Councillor Nuala Nolan and newcomer Monica Coughlan to fly the flag.

But already there are rumours a third candidate will be added in an attempt to hold two seats.

And if that happens, watch your back Nuala, they might shaft you, too!

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.