Galway West
FF’s Connolly rues missed chance for second seat
Better vote management could have delivered a second seat for Fianna Fáil, according to one of its three candidates in Galway West.
Former City Councillor, John Connolly, said the Fianna Fáil organisation has questions to answer for not delivering a second seat in the constituency.
Connolly, who has strong GAA connections, surprised many with a very respectable showing, which included 3,885 first preference votes.
But it was not enough to regain a second seat for the party in this former Fianna Fail stronghold.
Early tallies indicated the party might be in with a squeak of taking two but in the end only poll-topper, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, made it.
Speaking before being eliminated, city-based Mr Connolly said: “I think regretfully, Fine Gael are going to win two seats, with a lower percentage of the first preference vote than us, and questions should be asked about that.”
As it turned out, Fianna Fáil took 24.3% of the vote and one seat; Fine Gael took two seats with 24% of first preferences.
Mr Connolly, a primary school teacher in Rosscahill, said: “I would have to say that the party must be looking with a tinge of regret at the vote management strategy. Because we did discuss it (winning two seats) on occasions but the organisation locally, we were led in the direction, that to get two seats, irrespective of how it would break down between the candidates, that unless we get 27% or 28% of the vote we won’t be in the running for two seats.”
Asked what went wrong, Mr Connolly suggested tighter vote management in the city – where Ó Cuív polled very strongly – might have delivered a second seat.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
With half of the boxes in Galway City West tallied, the state of play in the six-seater is:
Donal Lyons (Ind) 23%
Pauline O’Reilly (Greens) 14.75%
Niall McNelis (Lab) 11.89%
John Connolly (FF) 9.86%
Pearce Flannery (FG) 9.48%
Peter Keane (FF) 7.3%
John Crowley (Soc Dems) 6.3%
Clodagh Higgins (FG) 5.9%
Salthill and Taylor’s Hill boxes being tallied now
There is a tired old cliché about people singing from ‘the same hymn sheet’ – but despite their diverse political backgrounds, it could certainly be applied in the case of Galway city’s two new TDs.
Because Fine Gael’s Deputy Hildegarde Naughten and independent TD Catherine Connolly hold common ground when it comes to a lot of issues relating to Galway city.
For example, in the aftermath of the general election they both agreed that University Hospital Galway should be moved to a greenfield site at Merlin Park. They also articulated this view on the first day of the new Dail last week.
And, separately, they were both in favour of the provision of dedicated bus lanes throughout Galway city with the acceptance that there will be no outer bypass for at least another decade. Deputy Connolly believes that the current proposal is simply “a cul-de-sac” and should never have been progressed.
Left-leaning Independent TD Catherine Connolly and right-leaning Fine Gael TD, Hildegarde Naughton, both believe UHG is at saturation point and are committed to the development of a new public hospital at the larger, more accessible site east of the city.
This, along with the promotion of public transport initiatives to help end traffic chaos in the city, is one of the common policy objectives the two new women TDs share.
They are only the second and third women TDs ever in Galway West, following in the footsteps of former Fianna Fáil minister, Máire Geoghegan Quinn.
Pressure is mounting on Galway West TD Noel Grealish to join Fianna Fail as the party attempts to be part of the next government.
The Fianna Fail organisation in the constituency are now convinced that Grealish may provide the party with the answer to winning a second seat in Galway West. And the organisation are disappointed that veteran TD Eamon O Cuiv has not delivered a second seat in the last two general elections. If Fianna Fail assume power, it is very unlikely that the Cornamona man will have a place at the front bench.
The party organisation in Galway West are now anxious that Grealish becomes part of their fabric and particularly as he is a proven vote-winner.
Grealish is part of an unofficial grouping in the Dail who are currently engaged with the two major parties with a view to forming a minority government.
The fact that the Carnmore man has been a TD since 2002, it is likely that he could be part of the front bench in the next government if he agrees to become part of the support that Fianna Fail require.
It was revealed last week that he had been approached by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin to join up but he was not to be drawn on the issue.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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