Galway pols put best foot forward on Tweet machine

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

The Twitterati have highlighted how Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar’s Twitter profile (@campaignforleo) makes no reference to Fine Gael, never mind that he is leader.

Leo’s profile points out he is Taoiseach, a fitness fan, who talks too much and likes to travel. No mention of FG, which had the conspiracy theorists on social media claiming he was ashamed of his political party.

Not so, Seán Kyne. As well as informing us that he is “Minister for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development” – presumably he couldn’t fit the full-length title in – Seán (@seankyneTD) tells his followers that he is also “Fine Gael TD for Galway West/South Mayo”.

Leaving aside that there is no such constituency (it officially remains Galway West, despite a chunk of Mayo being annexed), Seánín can’t be accused of hiding his FG affiliation.

The same couldn’t be said for his party colleague, Hildegarde Naughton (@1hildegarde), who makes no reference to Fine Gael in her Twitter biog.

She repeats Seán’s error, in keeping the Mayos sweet, by simply saying she is a “TD for Galway West South Mayo constituency”. Hildegarde’s profile pic also promotes Galway 2020, not FG.

Those who didn’t know that she was a Fine Gael TD, and not an Independent TD, would have to click through to the link to her website, which highlights her political affiliations.

What of other Galway West politicians?

Éamon Ó Cuív (@eamonocuiv) makes no bones about his party affiliations. Dev Óg describes himself as, “Teachta Dála Gaillimh Thiar & Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Regional Development, Rural Affairs and the Gaeltacht. Vice President of Fianna Fáil”. In fairness, the grandson of the party founder could hardly airbrush FF, even if he wanted to.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, lest there be any doubt about where his loyalties lie (last month he denied he was contemplating going independent), mentions Sinn Féin twice on his Twitter page.

Catherine Connolly (@catherinegalway) keeps it simple when she describes herself succinctly as: “TD, Independent”.

Independent TD, Noel Grealish, perhaps wisely, doesn’t have a Twitter account.

Meanwhile, it is interesting how wannabe TDs in Galway wish to be perceived on social media.

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