Connolly not just Queen of the Claddagh!

Catherine Connolly is not only the undisputable Queen of the Claddagh – but also the most popular politician in many parts of Galway city.

Deputy Connolly along with another new city-based TD in the 32nd Dáil, Hildegarde Naughton of Fine Gael, and Independent TD Noel Grealish are the city’s top three politicians.

Analysis of tally figures from the Galway West count at the weekend show the newly elected Deputy Connolly attracted widespread support across the city but trounced the opposition in her back yard of Claddagh, raking in 30% of votes.

She topped the poll in the six Taylor’s Hill boxes, attracting 12.8%, slightly better than Deputy Hildegarde Naughton (12%).

Deputy Connolly was strongest in Knocknacarra, too, on 12.2%, with Fianna Fáil’s John Connolly also polling strongly at 10.6%.

But in neighbouring Salthill, Deputy Naughton was tops with a massive 15.8%, in a Fine Gael stomping ground that saw Moycullen-based Deputy Seán Kyne also poll well (11%). Fianna Fáil’s Connolly took 10.4% in Salthill.

Deputy Connolly was marginally ahead in Bushypark, where she outpolled Social Democrats Niall Ó Tuathail, a native of the area, by 11.5% compared with 11.4%.

Deputy Connolly ruled Shantalla, too, with 22% well ahead of the rest.  The Labour Party was wiped in the working class of Ballybane, where Derek Nolan took just 6.8%, and he performed relatively better in middle class areas.

Independent Mike Cubbard hovered up one in four Ballybane votes (19.6%), with Independent Noel Grealish (14.6%) and Sinn Féin Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (13%) also very strong.

Deputy Grealish was most popular in Castlegar with 14% of the vote, followed closely by Deputy Naughton.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.