Dr Fidelma Healy leaves politics behind to return to her roots

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

We recently brought you news of retired Labour Party politician, Lorraine Higgins’ new job.

But Lovely Lorraine isn’t the only Galway senator who was defeated in the last general election, and who didn’t get back into Seanad Éireann, who has taken the hint and changed career paths.

Former Fine Gael-come-Independent senator, and failed general election candidate, Fidelma Healy Eames, having left the world of politics behind her – for the moment at least – is now concentrating on a new business venture.

FHE’s social media accounts (she is going by “Fidelma Healy, PHD” on Twitter and “Dr Fidelma Healy” on LinkedIn) tell us that she is now a director of a company called Futures Together Ltd, which was set up last November.

Considering she was a lecturer before entering the political fray, the education business sounds like a good fit.

According to its website, the new venture in Oranmore is a “family-based English language learning programme” that delivers “a unique and caring service for international students wishing to learn English in a warm, family and safe setting”.

Another part of the business “specialises in guiding and supporting young people with career direction and learning with a view to enabling them to unlock their own potential and choose fulfilling futures”.

Politics’ loss, we’re sure, will be students’ gain – exciting times for the educationalist.

No doubt she’ll be back soon again, though, to fight to oppose any changes to Ireland’s abortion laws by way of a referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

Bet you can’t wait.

Naked commercialism of roundabouts plan

Is nothing safe from creeping commercialism?

Galway City Council, in its wisdom, has invited businesses to compete with each other to earn the privilege of sponsoring the city’s roundabouts.

For a donation of at least €10,000, businesses will pay for the upkeep of roundabouts.

In return, they will be given prime advertising spots on approach roads into Galway.

Perhaps if Galway City Council did its job in the first place, and ensured that roundabouts were not overgrown and dishevelled looking, then there’d be no need for gaudy signs that try to sell us stuff while blighting the landscape.

Notwithstanding the argument that businesses and homeowners already pay for the upkeep of roundabouts through property tax, commercial rates and general taxation, where will this commercialisation end?

What if a certain lap-dancing club wins the tender – a roundabout with hoarding containing photographs of scantily clad men and women with their bits out isn’t exactly going to woo the Tidy Towns judges. But at least it would be in keeping with the naked commercialism of the idea.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.