Kyne’s ministerial snub drives Frank to despair

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

As reported by the Tribune last week, Fine Gael is giving Fianna Fáil a run for its money in the ‘jobs for the boys’ stakes.

Junior Minister Seán Kyne, not a wet-week in the Gaeltacht department, has handed one of his buddy-old-pals, John Walsh, a plum job.

One of the perks of being minister – no matter how junior – is you get two drivers, paid for by the State.

This is so you can be driven around the country opening envelopes and other important stuff.

You couldn’t possibly drive yourself because the time spent driving would take away from the time you should be spending running the country, which is fair enough.

So Seánín had two driver positions to fill. When he was asked would he consider John Walsh, the Galway City Councillor, how could the Moycullen Minister refuse?

They’re both Fine Gaelers – so Seán is assured of John’s ‘schtock n breedin’.

And sure they’ve been mates for years; John even canvassed for him in the general election.

An added bonus is Seán is buddies with John’s brother, Brianeen; sure didn’t they soldier together on the backbenches of Dáil Éireann.

The Kyne and Walsh families have history, too, so why wouldn’t he give it to him?

The bonus is that they get on, and John is a discreet sort of a guy and wouldn’t be gossiping about all the state-secrets that Seánín would be discussing while in the back of his plush motor.

Not everyone was happy with John’s appointment, however.

Frank Fahy, the outgoing mayor, has told one or two colleagues on the City Council that he’s miffed he was overlooked for the role of driver.

The Menlo man would have been an ideal candidate, too. He’s a Gaeilgeoir, and speaks fluent Irish, which should be a consideration of the Gaeltacht Minister.

(Although, why would it, sure wasn’t his predecessor unable to speak Irish fluently?)

But Frankeen had an ace up his sleeve – he drives for a living.

No dice. Although we hear he’s still holding out for the second driver position, that has yet to be filled.

Thankless taxiing

Frank Fahy, the mayor whose term of office came to a close last week, is a taxi driver.

As it’s his day – and night – job, Frankeen knows what it’s like to drive for a living.

It ain’t easy. The driving is grand but the passengers can be trouble.

There was some bafflement, then, at a recent City Council meeting when the mayoral chain was being handed over to the newest first citizen, Noel Larkin.

Frankeen’s colleagues, and particularly former mayors, were confused that the outgoing mayor made no mention of his driver in his departure speech.

Apart from being polite and courteous, it is tradition in City Hall that mayors thank their drivers.

After all they have taxied them around to functions all over the city, and beyond, during their term in office.

And as former mayor Pádraig Conneely attested, your driver is often your right-hand man during the year.

But Frankeen never mentioned, let alone publicly thanked, his driver Donal Leonard.

Maybe he forgot.

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