‘John O’ the Mayo king eyes move to Galway

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

As every Fine Gael politician in the country – and all their die-hard supporters, too – were heading to Castlebar a fortnight ago, one man was going in the opposite direction.

Fine Gael Mayo TD, John O’Mahony, the former Galway All-Ireland winning football manager, we hear, left the party convention early to attend a Mayo Association Galway dinner dance in the Galway Bay Hotel in Salthill.

Why Mayo people need an association in Galway is beyond us – couldn’t they just make the short journey back home to mingle with their own? – but it’s been going strong since the 1970s. When John O’ arrived at the bash, we hear he was given a King’s welcome, fuelling speculation that he is about to declare to run in Galway West, which will include parts of South Mayo, at the next general election.

An announcement is apparently imminent. Meanwhile, his party colleagues in Galway – Seán Kyne, Brian Walsh and Hildegarde Naughton – are worried sick at the prospect of competing against the man that last delivered Sam Maguire West of the Shannon.

Was Derek dozing off?

How do we know that the Labour Party is worried Derek Nolan will lose his seat in Galway West at the next election?

Because they plonked him in the front-row, right behind and just on the shoulder of leader, Joan Burton, during her television address from its party conference in Killarney at the weekend. The safer seat you have, the farther away from the television cameras you are positioned.

Derek got a full half-hour free advertisement on prime time television on RTÉ as he nodded his head approvingly, flitted his eyelashes and clapped his hands at Joan’s utterances. He even started the obligatory standing ovation at the end. A half-hour is a long-time to remain on message, though, and he let his guard down.

At one point he was picking his eye with a finger (was that a tear he was wiping, or a bit of sleep?). At least it wasn’t his nose.

And as the nation collectively yawned, Derek was spotted catching a sly glance at his wristwatch, presumably checking when Joan would be shutting up.

Still, the handlers will be happy he was almost slap-bang in the TV limelight. Derek will need more than that to save his bacon but at least the party hierarchy has taken its head out of the sand and recognises he’s in trouble – that’s half the battle.

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