Old enemies to do power deal on Galway County Council

Civil war politics will be swept aside as Fine Gael prepares to do a deal with Fianna Fail that will see them control power on Galway County Council following last weekend’s local elections.

That’s after voters returned twelve Fianna Fail councillors, twelve Fine Gael, twelve independents and three Sinn Fein councillors – never before has there been such a mixed representation.

Now all eyes will be on who will control power on the new 39 seat council and, more importantly, who will hold the office of Mayor of County Galway over the next five years.

With so many independent councillors on Galway County Council, the speculation is that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will enter negotiations over the coming days with a view to controlling the local authority.

This means that they will divide the next five mayors between them as well as having the majority when it comes to passing a budget – also they will dictate the appointment of members to some lucrative committees.

It also means that the twelve independent councillors and three Sinn Fein representatives will be ‘left out in the cold’ when it comes to being mayor of the county.

It is understood that the independents have formed a nine councillor group who are ready to enter discussions to share power with Fine Gael.

But Fianna Fail and Fine Gael sources say that discussions between representatives from both parties will take place over the coming days.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune – along with 14 pages of election analysis and reaction.