Elections
Politics is in the blood!
Why do we vote the way we do? Simple says American writer and journalist Rick Shenkman – we’re stupid!
Well, fair enough, Shenkman – author of “Just How Stupid are we – the truth about the American voter” – was writing about the American voters.
Shenkman’s latest tome is a variation on the same theme. “Political Animals – How our Stone Age brain gets in the way of smart politics” predictably touches on the support which Donald Trump is now garnering in the United States. But there is more to it than that.
Shenkman says that events such as your favourite sports team winning close to election day can seriously influence how you vote.
If you are buoyed up and happy because Manchester United headed in four goals to win 4-0 then you will not take any heed of the “whingers” in Castlebar; you will be far more likely to use your head and vote for the party in power.
Who would want to change the way the world is when your favourite team is winning? Nobody would be that stupid.
Off course it might be a good thing for us that Rick Shenkman is operating on the far side of the Atlantic. If Rick got wind of the way some families got ingrained in Fianna Fáil and others in Fine Gael because of a local dispute 95 years ago, he would blow a fuse.
What kind of words would Rick use at all if he heard the whole story about our politics? He’d say we were not using our heads; indeed he might even say we are stupid.
But, off course, like a lot of smart people Rick Shenkman is wrong –and there is science available to show that too.
Professor Kevin Smith is in charge of the Political Science Department in the University of Nebraska in the United States.
Smith and his team have gone to the core of the subject of why we vote the way we do.
“Our basic voting instincts are dictated by inner leanings and not by a minute study of the various issues at election time”, says the Professor.
“Results from studies we have carried out show that our political instincts are woven in the brain on a biological basis”.
So how do they know that in Nebraska?
Highly scientific studies in regard to this issue have been – and are being – carried out in laboratories in the University of Nebraska.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Bike users want the local authority to examine the introduction of two-way cycling on one-way city centre streets.
Galway Cycling Campaign has again called for cycling to be allowed both ways. It comes as Galway City Council prepares to cordon-off parts of city centre streets to traffic, and make Dominick Street Lower one-way, to facilitate outdoor dining.
The cycling organisation said that the proposed pedestrianisation plan at the Small Crane, and the one-way system on Dominick Street, will result in lengthy diversions for people on bikes.
It has pointed out that school children and their guardians who cycle along Raleigh Row, and turn right towards Sea Road, will probably continue to do so even when the Small Crane is cordoned off to traffic, because the alternative route – via Henry Street – is too long a detour.
Similarly, it has been suggested that food-delivery services on bikes are unlikely to go the ‘long way round’ via Mill Street and New Road to get from Bridge Mills to restaurants on Dominick Street and would be tempted to cycle the ‘wrong way’ down the proposed one-way street or on the footpath.
Shane Foran, committee member of Galway Cycling Campaign, said now would be an ideal time to introduce two-way cycling on some one-way streets.
“It’s not controversial,” insisted Mr Foran. “It’s a general principle in other countries, if you are putting in new traffic arrangements, you would try and keep access for people on bikes.”
The regulation is contained in the National Cycle Policy Framework 2009; and a specific objective was contained in two of the most recent previous City Development Plans.
He said a former minister and Galway West TD, the late Bobby Molloy, had the vision to change the legislation in the late 1990s – but it hasn’t yet been embraced here.
“Bobby Molloy, who couldn’t be classed as an eco warrior, changed the law in 1998, so that it is available to local authorities to put up a sign granting an exemption from restrictions for people cycling on one-way streets.
“The road stays one-way for cars, and two ways for bicycles. Clearly that’s not going to be a sensible to do everywhere, like Merchants’ Road. In those situations, you might need a cycle track or lane to segregate people from traffic.
“But if it’s a low traffic street, with low speeds or relatively lower volumes of cars, then it should be possible for people on bicycles to cycle in both directions and still have it one-way for cars, without it being a major safety issue. It works in other countries,” said Mr Foran.
The final three seats in Galway City Central have been filled – one Fine Gael, one Green Party and one Independent have been deemed elected after the 11th count.
Martina O’Connor’s election doubles the Greens’ representation on Galway City Council, following yesterday’s election of Pauline O’Reilly in City West.
The Green Party’s Martina O’Connor with friends and family after her election.
Former mayor Frank Fahy retains his seat, and along with Eddie Hoare, who was elected on the 10th count, keeps Fine Gael’s representation in the electoral area at two seats.
Independent Colette Connolly, who was eighth after the first count, regains the seat she lost in the 2014 local election when she was running for the Labour Party.
She had been co-opted back onto the Council in City West in 2016, when Catherine Connolly, her sister, won a seat in Dáil Éireann.
Mike Cubbard (Ind), who topped the poll for a second election in a row, and Ollie Crowe (FF), were elected yesterday in City Central.
Colette Connolly (Ind) who retained her seat.
A recount was called after the ninth count on Saturday night, when Labour’s John McDonagh was eliminated, trailing the next highest candidate, Martina O’Connor, by eight votes.
Following the recount, McDonagh and O’Connor were tied, but O’Connor was elected as she had a higher first preference vote.
That concludes the counting in the three electoral areas of Galway City Council.
The make-up of the new Council is: 5 Fianna Fáil (Mike Crowe, Ollie Crowe, Alan Cheevers, John Connolly and Peter Keane), 3 Fine Gael (Clodagh Higgins, Frank Fahy and Eddie Hoare), 2 Green Party (Pauline O’Reilly and Martina O’Connor), 1 Social Democrat (Owen Hanley), 1 Labour (Niall McNelis), and 6 Independents (Terry O’Flaherty, Declan McDonnell, Donal Lyons, Mike Cubbard, Noel Larkin, Colette Connolly).
Galway City Central:
Electorate: 16,241
Total Poll: 8,146
Spoiled Votes: 150 (Revised up by 6 on recount)
Total Valid poll: 7,996 (Revised down by 6 on recount)
Quota: 1,143 (Revised down by 1 on recount)
First Count:
Byrne, Imelda FF 490
Connolly, Colette Ind 493
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú 429
Crowe, Ollie FF 1,008
Cubbard, Mike Ind 1,292 ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG 694
Feeney, Patrick Ind 1
Geraghty, Mike Ind 243
Hoare, Eddie FG 854
Lohan, Mark SF 328
Loughnane, Joe PBP 377
McDonagh, John Lab 527
Nolan, Sharon SocDems 515
O’Connor, Martina Greens 544
O’Flaherty, Darragh Ind 83
O’Toole, James Ind 124
Cubbard elected
SECOND COUNT:
Distribution of Cubbard’s surplus:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+7) 497
Connolly, Colette Ind (+17) 510
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+5) 434
Crowe, Ollie FF (+16) 1,024
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+15) 709
Feeney, Patrick Ind (+1) 2
Geraghty, Mike Ind (+13) 256
Hoare, Eddie FG (+12) 866
Lohan, Mark SF (+8) 336
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+9) 386
McDonagh, John Lab (+20) 547
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+10) 525
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+8) 552
O’Flaherty, Darragh Ind (+3) 86
O’Toole, James Ind (+4) 128
Non-transferable: 0
Patrick Feeney (Ind), Daragh O’Flaherty (Ind) and James O’Toole (Ind) eliminated.
THIRD COUNT:
Distribution of Feeney’s, O’Flaherty’s and O’Toole’s votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+19) 516
Connolly, Colette Ind (+16) 526
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+19) 453
Crowe, Ollie FF (+12) 1,036
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+12) 721
Geraghty, Mike Ind (+17) 273
Hoare, Eddie FG (+15) 881
Lohan, Mark SF (+6) 342
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+10) 396
McDonagh, John Lab (+32) 579
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+9) 534
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+19) 571
Non-transferable: 30
Eliminated: Mike Geraghty
Geraghty’s 273 votes to be transferred
FOURTH COUNT:
Distribution Geraghty’s votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+19) 535
Connolly, Colette Ind (+25) 551
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+28) 481
Crowe, Ollie FF (+17) 1,053
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+36) 757
Hoare, Eddie FG (+56) 937
Lohan, Mark SF (3) 345
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+17) 413
McDonagh, John Lab (+23) 602
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+5) 539
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+19) 590
Non-transferable: 25
Eliminated: Mark Lohan
Lohan’s 345 votes to be transferred
FIFTH COUNT:
Distribution of Lohan’s votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+16) 551
Connolly, Colette Ind (+39) 590
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+12) 493
Crowe, Ollie FF (+12) 1,065
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+23) 780
Hoare, Eddie FG (+14) 951
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+55) 468
McDonagh, John Lab (+34) 636
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+37) 576
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+28) 618
Non-transferable: 75
Eliminated: Joe Loughnane
SIXTH COUNT:
Distribution of Loughnane’s 468 votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+17) 568
Connolly, Colette Ind (+58) 648
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+24) 517
Crowe, Ollie FF (+7) 1,072
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+10) 790
Hoare, Eddie FG (+16) 967
McDonagh, John Lab (+20) 656
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+165) 741
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+66) 684
Non-transferable: 85
Eliminated: Ó Corcoráin
SEVENTH COUNT:
Distribution of ó Corcoráin’s 517 votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+41) 609 eliminated
Connolly, Colette Ind (+53) 701
Crowe, Ollie FF (+88) 1,160 ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+43) 833
Hoare, Eddie FG (+56) 1,023
McDonagh, John Lab (+38) 694
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+21) 762
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+36) 720
Non-transferable: 141
Eliminated: Byrne
Eighth COUNT:
Distribution of Byrne’s 609 votes:
Connolly, Colette Ind (+99) 800
Crowe, Ollie FF (+88) 1,160 ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+94) 927
Hoare, Eddie FG (+85) 1,108
McDonagh, John Lab (+65) 759
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+31) 793
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+49) 769
Non-transferable: 186
Ollie Crowe’s surplus of 16 to be distributed
NINTH COUNT (Recount)
Connolly, Colette Ind (+3) 804
Crowe, Ollie FF ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+5) 931
Hoare, Eddie FG (+2) 1,109
McDonagh, John Lab (+4) 768 ELIMINATED
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+1) 788
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+2) 768
Non-transferable: 0
Eliminated: John McDonagh LAB
TENTH COUNT
Eddie Hoare FG ELECTED
Connolly, Colette Ind (+159) 963
Crowe, Ollie FF ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+79) 1,010
Hoare, Eddie FG (+79) 1,188 ELECTED
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+82) 870
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+144) 912
Non-transferable: 222
EDDIE HOARE ELECTED – surplus of 45 to be redistributed
ELEVENTH COUNT
Eddie Hoare’s surplus of 45:
Connolly, Colette Ind (+11) 974 ELECTED
Crowe, Ollie FF ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+19) 1,029 ELECTED
Hoare, Eddie FG (+79) 1,188 ELECTED
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+3) 873
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+12) 924
Non-transferable: 0
Former Galway senior footballer Eddie Hoare has been elected to Galway City Council.
He finished with 1,188 votes and exceeded quota on the tenth count in City Central.
He had a surplus of 45 votes, which will now be redistributed in Count 11.
Frank Fahy (FG) and Colette Connolly will be returned to the Council.
Martina O’Connor (Green) is 42 votes ahead of Social Democrat, Sharon Nolan, and is highly unlikely to be caught.
O’Connor, Connolly and Fahy will be deemed to be elected without reaching the quota.
(ALTERED FOLLOWING RECOUNT)
Galway City Central:
Electorate: 16,241
Total Poll: 8,146
Spoiled Votes: 150 (Revised up by 6 on recount)
Total Valid poll: 7,996 (Revised down by 6 on recount)
Quota: 1,143 (Revised down by 1 on recount)
First Count:
Byrne, Imelda FF 490
Connolly, Colette Ind 493
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú 429
Crowe, Ollie FF 1,008
Cubbard, Mike Ind 1,292 ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG 694
Feeney, Patrick Ind 1
Geraghty, Mike Ind 243
Hoare, Eddie FG 854
Lohan, Mark SF 328
Loughnane, Joe PBP 377
McDonagh, John Lab 527
Nolan, Sharon SocDems 515
O’Connor, Martina Greens 544
O’Flaherty, Darragh Ind 83
O’Toole, James Ind 124
Cubbard elected
SECOND COUNT:
Distribution of Cubbard’s surplus:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+7) 497
Connolly, Colette Ind (+17) 510
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+5) 434
Crowe, Ollie FF (+16) 1,024
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+15) 709
Feeney, Patrick Ind (+1) 2
Geraghty, Mike Ind (+13) 256
Hoare, Eddie FG (+12) 866
Lohan, Mark SF (+8) 336
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+9) 386
McDonagh, John Lab (+20) 547
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+10) 525
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+8) 552
O’Flaherty, Darragh Ind (+3) 86
O’Toole, James Ind (+4) 128
Non-transferable: 0
Patrick Feeney (Ind), Daragh O’Flaherty (Ind) and James O’Toole (Ind) eliminated.
THIRD COUNT:
Distribution of Feeney’s, O’Flaherty’s and O’Toole’s votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+19) 516
Connolly, Colette Ind (+16) 526
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+19) 453
Crowe, Ollie FF (+12) 1,036
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+12) 721
Geraghty, Mike Ind (+17) 273
Hoare, Eddie FG (+15) 881
Lohan, Mark SF (+6) 342
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+10) 396
McDonagh, John Lab (+32) 579
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+9) 534
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+19) 571
Non-transferable: 30
Eliminated: Mike Geraghty
Geraghty’s 273 votes to be transferred
FOURTH COUNT:
Distribution Geraghty’s votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+19) 535
Connolly, Colette Ind (+25) 551
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+28) 481
Crowe, Ollie FF (+17) 1,053
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+36) 757
Hoare, Eddie FG (+56) 937
Lohan, Mark SF (3) 345
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+17) 413
McDonagh, John Lab (+23) 602
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+5) 539
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+19) 590
Non-transferable: 25
Eliminated: Mark Lohan
Lohan’s 345 votes to be transferred
FIFTH COUNT:
Distribution of Lohan’s votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+16) 551
Connolly, Colette Ind (+39) 590
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+12) 493
Crowe, Ollie FF (+12) 1,065
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+23) 780
Hoare, Eddie FG (+14) 951
Loughnane, Joe PBP (+55) 468
McDonagh, John Lab (+34) 636
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+37) 576
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+28) 618
Non-transferable: 75
Eliminated: Joe Loughnane
SIXTH COUNT:
Distribution of Loughnane’s 468 votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+17) 568
Connolly, Colette Ind (+58) 648
Corcoráin, Cormac Ó Aontú (+24) 517
Crowe, Ollie FF (+7) 1,072
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+10) 790
Hoare, Eddie FG (+16) 967
McDonagh, John Lab (+20) 656
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+165) 741
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+66) 684
Non-transferable: 85
Eliminated: Ó Corcoráin
SEVENTH COUNT:
Distribution of ó Corcoráin’s 517 votes:
Byrne, Imelda FF (+41) 609 eliminated
Connolly, Colette Ind (+53) 701
Crowe, Ollie FF (+88) 1,160 ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+43) 833
Hoare, Eddie FG (+56) 1,023
McDonagh, John Lab (+38) 694
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+21) 762
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+36) 720
Non-transferable: 141
Eliminated: Byrne
Eighth COUNT:
Distribution of Byrne’s 609 votes:
Connolly, Colette Ind (+99) 800
Crowe, Ollie FF (+88) 1,160 ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+94) 927
Hoare, Eddie FG (+85) 1,108
McDonagh, John Lab (+65) 759
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+31) 793
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+49) 769
Non-transferable: 186
Ollie Crowe’s surplus of 16 to be distributed
NINTH COUNT (Recount)
Connolly, Colette Ind (+3) 804
Crowe, Ollie FF ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+5) 931
Hoare, Eddie FG (+2) 1,109
McDonagh, John Lab (+4) 768 ELIMINATED
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+1) 788
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+2) 768
Non-transferable: 0
Eliminated: John McDonagh LAB
TENTH COUNT
Eddie Hoare FG ELECTED
Connolly, Colette Ind (+159) 963
Crowe, Ollie FF ELECTED
Cubbard, Mike Ind ELECTED
Fahy, Frank FG (+79) 1,010
Hoare, Eddie FG (+79) 1,188 ELECTED
Nolan, Sharon SocDems (+82) 870
O’Connor, Martina Greens (+144) 912
Non-transferable: 222
EDDIE HOARE ELECTED – surplus of 45 to be redistributed
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