Controversial Galway Councillor wants motorway jobs kept for local workers

The five hundred jobs that are to be created during the construction of the Gort to Tuam motorway should be given to Galway workers . . . and not foreigners.

It has been argued that hurling teams in South Galway are decimated through emigration and there was a need to attract these hurlers back.

But Cllr. Michael Fahy emphasised that he had nothing against people from Poland, Latvia or Lithuania.

“The point I am making is that they should go home and try and get jobs in their own countries.

“We are currently in a crisis situation in County Galway. We haven’t enough jobs for our own people.

“It is 26 years since we won an All-Ireland hurling title and the main reason is that some of our best hurlers and workers are living abroad”, Cllr. Michael Fahy added.

Earlier this year the contracts for the Gort to Tuam motorway were signed and it is expected that works will commence by the end of the year or early next year at the latest.

The 57 kilometre project is expected to cost in the region of €550 million and a large portion of this has been paid out in the acquisition of lands along the route.

The Connacht Tribune raised Cllr. Fahy’s controversial comments with the Irish Council for Civil Liberties but they declined to make any comment.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.