Grealish’s seat may be under threat in Galway West carve-up

Date Published: 03-May-2011

AN independent body is to examine how to axe 20 seats in the Dáil which will involve reducing Galway West to a four seat constituency.

This process is to start in a few months time and already there are fears that it could be bad news for sitting TD Noel Grealish.

Currently there are five seats available in Galway West but as part of the Government’s promised political reform, the day of the five seater constituency is set to become a thing of the past.

Deputy Grealish is likely to see a major tract of his stomping ground carved up and moved into an enlarged Galway East constituency.

There is speculation that areas close to Oranmore, Turloughmore and across to Annaghdown will become part of the Galway East constituency when the reforms are completed.

It means that Carnmore based Deputy Grealish will see a large chunk of his base being consigned into Galway East and there is every possibility that he could even stand in this constituency in the next general election.

And the same is true of Fine Gael’s Sen. Fidelma Healy Eames who is likely to see a large number of her votes being removed from her grasp and if she decides to contest the next general election, she too could ply her trade in Galway East – she has a lot of family connections in North Galway.

Galway West TD Brian Walsh said that it was likely that Galway would lose one TD as part of the reforms and the speculation was on that being in Galway West.

He said that the independent body which would make the recommendations would be considering the recent census figures but expected the process to begin this summer.

Deputy Walsh said that the reform could change the landscape of the Galway West constituency and added that no outgoing seat was safe if it was reduced to a four seater.

Fine Gael won two seats for the first time since the early ‘80s but they could also face a major difficulty in retaining them although Deputy Brian Walsh and Deputy Sean Kyne are well placed geographically if the constituency is to be reduced to a four seater.

In five years time Fianna Fail’s Deputy Eamon O Cuiv may not be a candidate and it is unlikely that former Minister Frank Fahey will throw his name into the ring following his inability to retain his seat.