Mary Lou is all cuddles and no compass on Galway trip

Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column 

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams famously had problems with figures during general election campaigns. And now it seems his successor, Mary Lou McDonald, hasn’t got a great grasp of geography.
Mary Lou was in Galway during the final week of the Arts Festival, to meet and greet the local foot soldiers. While here, she took in meetings with business leaders and trade unionists and party activists and more besides.
The Dubliner also took time out of her busy schedule to record an interview with the party’s Galway West candidate for the next general election, Mairéad Farrell.
It’s probably because Mairéad is so small and childlike and dare we say it, cuddly – yes, a cuddly Shinner – but can you imagine Mary Lou posing like this photograph with any other elected representative in the country? TDs Aengus Ó Snodaigh and Martin Ferris wouldn’t strike you as hugging-types.
It wasn’t all hugs ‘n’ kisses on Mary Lou’s Galway trip, however.
Galway City Councillor Mairéad’s face frowned during the interview posted online on social media when her great leader said she was running in the Galway East constituency rather than Galway West.
“I can say this because Mairéad won’t, she’s too modest . . . the best thing at the next election everyone in Galway East can do is to vote for Councillor Mairéad Farrell to be a TD and a champion for your constituency,” said Mary Lou.
You. Had. One. Job!
And there isn’t even a passing resemblance between Mairéad and the Loughrea-based Shinner and the party’s Galway East candidate the last time out, Annemarie Roche. At least whoever translated the subtitles for the Facebook video changed East to West to spare their leader’s blushes.

Cathal for Connemara?
The changes to Galway’s local electoral boundaries have got politicos speculating that Sinn Féin City Councillor Cathal Ó Conchúir might contest in the local elections for a seat on Galway County Council – as opposed to City Council – next time around . . .
This is a preview only. To read the rest of Bradley Bytes, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. Buy a digital edition of this week’s paper here.

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