Galway East
Battle lines drawn for Fianna Fáil’s faithful
The Soldiers of Destiny have gone to war – with each other – as the two general election candidates in Galway East vie for the hearts and minds of the Fianna Fáil faithful.
Both Fianna Fáil candidates in the newly redrawn constituency have been emphasising the ‘celebrity’ endorsements they’ve been receiving from heavy hitters within in the party locally.
Portumna-based Galway County Councillor, Anne Rabbitte, gave the impression this week she has the backing of two former TDs.
Meanwhile, Tuam-based sitting TD, Colm Keaveney, the party’s frontbench spokesperson on mental health, was emphasising how he has the support of two influential County Councillors.
Cllr Rabbitte, a first-time general election candidate, was joined on the canvass in Loughrea by Leas Ceann Comhairle Micheál Kitt, who is retiring having been first elected in the constituency in 1975. She was also joined by former TD Joe Callanan who lost his seat in 2007.
The campaign of Deputy Keaveney, meanwhile, was buoyed by the endorsement of County Councillor Gerry Finnerty in Gort and County Councillor Shane Donnellan in Loughrea.
Cllrs Finnerty and Donnellan both sponsored newspaper advertisements, which called for a number one vote for Keaveney, “your national politician, your strongest local voice”.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Fine Gael will struggle to hold its seat in Galway City East.
With just over half the boxes tallied for Galway City East, Fianna Fáil’s Alan Cheevers looks set to take a seat, polling at over 17 per cent of first preferences.
With Mervue, Ballybane and Tirellan polling stations still to be tallied, Cheevers has taken the lead, with Independent councillor Terry O’Flaherty slipping into second with 16 per cent.
Incumbent Fianna Fáil councillor Mike Crowe is on 10.5 per cent, with Independent councillor Declan McDonnell on 8 per cent.
The Green’s Claire Hillery looks to be benefitting from the party’s nationwide jump in the polls, collecting 6.5 per cent of first preferences.
Sitting Councillors Noel Larkin (Ind), Mairéad Farrell (SF) and John Walsh (FG) are polling at 7.5 per cent, 5.7 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively.
Also still in contention is the Social Democrats’ Owen Hanley with 6.6 per cent of the vote.
City East Tallies with 50% of boxes open
A concession on turf cutting, an examination of the decision to close rural Garda stations and post offices – as well as flood alleviation – are all on the shopping list for at least two of Galway’s independent TDs before any agreement to support a new Government.
Both Michael Fitzmaurice from Glinsk and Sean Canney from Tuam have been in discussions with the main parties since the general election with a view to securing their support.
They are part of the six-strong Independent Alliance which also includes Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran and Shane Ross – but top of their list concerns they have regarding rural Ireland.
It is understood that part of any deal would see some concession on the whole turf cutting controversy, while the issue of the closure of rural Garda Stations and rural post offices are also high on the agenda.
Deputy Canney said that so too was the recent flooding crisis and added that many farmers and individual householders were still suffering.
The Independent Alliance will hold further discussions with the parties and Deputy Canney emphasised that they were not demanding ministerial positions but just a better deal for rural Ireland.
They are demanding, however, that there will be a full Minister for Rural Affairs appointed once the new government is formed.
Deputy Canney added that it was being suggested that a TD in each constituency would report back to this department.
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