FF colleagues row in behind Crowe in bid at Dáil seat

Galway City Councillor Ollie Crowe has announced that he is seeking a Dáil seat, as a running mate of sitting Fianna Fáil TD, Éamon Ó Cuív, in Galway West.

And the publican from Bohermore has already received the backing of his four colleagues on Galway City Council.

Cllr Peter Keane, who was rumoured to be interested in running, and Cllr John Connolly, who was unsuccessful in the 2016 election despite a decent showing, have both indicated their support for Ollie Crowe.

At a meeting between the five last Friday, Cllrs Connolly and Keane threw their weight behind Ollie Crowe, as did his brother, Mike Crowe and City East newcomer Alan Cheevers.

His name will now go forward to a selection convention, which will be held before the end of September, when Deputy O Cuív returns for the US. A third canddiate could also be added for gender balance.

Ollie Crowe has been a public representative for over a decade, and was elected to the City Council for the third time in May’s local elections. He said now was the time to ‘step-up’, having canvassed for others down through the years.

“I was a wingman for Michael John (Crowe) in 2007 and 2011, and again for John Connolly in 2016. I’ve been approached by a lot of people, including non-Fianna Fáil people, who have encouraged me to put my name forward and I’m heartened by that. I’d like to pay tribute to my four City Council colleagues, for allowing my name to go forward,” said Cllr Crowe, who has strong connections with Liam Mellows Hurling Club.

Fianna Fáil will have a city-based candidate, and Ollie Crowe has appealed for Fianna Fáil members to back his candidacy on the ticket.

He said Fianna Fáil has a ‘mammoth task’ on its hands to win back a second seat in Galway West for the first time since 2007 – but it was achievable.

“In the local elections, Fianna Fáil’s six candidates in the City Council won 4,849 first preference votes, and we took five seats and are the biggest grouping,” he said.

“Fianna Fáil won an additional 17 seats across the country in the locals, and Galway was exceptional in that we won an extra five – we went from three to five seats on the City Council and won three more on the County Council. It’s a huge constituency from Clifden to Clarinbridge, but I’m up for the challenge because I believe it is vital we put the people first.

“This is a Dublin-centred Government; and Limerick has benefitted from having a senior minister. In Galway, we don’t have a senior minister and if Fianna Fáil wins two seats, we will put serious pressure on the Taoiseach of the day to have a Galway representative at the Cabinet table,” he added.