Hanley the Survivor to usurp Ó Tuathaill

Bradley Bytes – a sort of political column by Dara Bradley

Owen Hanley is a fan of Survivor, the US reality-competition TV series, aired weekly on TG4.

Galway’s first and only Social Democrat elected to political office, City Councillor Owen Hanley, apparently never misses an episode. In fairness, it can be compelling viewing.

Contestants marooned on a desert island must fend for themselves in terms of sourcing food, shelter, water and fire. The players compete with each other for rewards and immunity from elimination. One contestant is voted off each week at Tribal Council, in an anonymous ballot of their peers.

When it’s whittled down to only two or three contestants, at the Final Tribal Council those who have already been voted off, return and decide which remaining contestant is crowned champion.

So, playing dirty might help you get to the final, but if you’ve double-crossed people to get there, then you’re unlikely to win.

The game is all about trying to outwit, outplay and outlast fellow tribe members . . . and often that brings out all sorts of skulduggery and back-stabbing.

Maybe that’s how Owen Hanley got a taste for politics; and he’d have seen his fair share of shenanigans during his first year on Galway City Council.

Often in Survivor, it’s the least likely contestants who remain standing at the end – and Hanley was certainly a surprise package in the May local elections, taking a seat in City East at the expense of Sinn Féin’s Mairéad Farrell, who has since become a TD. But is Hanley eyeing Dáil Éireann, too?

Mister Social Democrats in Galway, Níall Ó Tuathail, enjoys almost cult-like status within the party locally. And yet, he’s been unsuccessful in two General Elections in Galway West. Losing out in the recent Seanad Éireann elections was another kick in the teeth for Nialler.

Throw in that he declined to run in the Locals, and Ó Tuathail may just be losing his lustre among the ‘purple party’ faithful.

Initially, last May, opponents of the Soc Dems wondered how long Hanley would last before losing interest and facilitating the co-option of Ó Tuathail to the City Council. Now there are mutterings that Hanley – the only Soc Dem in Galway who is proven electorally – may usurp Nialler, and challenge for the right to be on the Dáil ticket at the next election.

He’ll need Survivor instincts but it’d be a twist worthy of a final Tribal Council meeting.
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