Senator Naughton backed for high office

Hildegarde Naughton is destined for high office if Fine Gael is returned to Government, according to one of the party’s local stalwarts.

Jarlath McDonagh, a Galway County Councillor of 30 years and senator of ten years, has backed Senator Naughton to become at least a junior minister if elected to Dáil Éireann, and FG forms a coalition.

Her running mates, John O’Mahony and Seán Kyne have been touted as potential ministers for sport and Gaeltacht affairs, respectively.  But Mr McDonagh reckons Naughton, a former city mayor, also has the wherewithal for ministerial office.

“Of all the candidates I have canvassed with over the last 30 years, she is one of the finest,” he said.

The Fine Gael man said he was “shocked” to learn that his party has never had a city-based minister – Galway West’s John Donnellan, a junior minister in the 1980s, lived in Dunmore, he said.

Mayo voters are “cute”, he said, and returned a Taoiseach and junior minister last time. The time has come for Galway to have representation at ministerial level, he said.

Mr McDonagh said Naughton was “articulate” and a “people’s person” who has a strong grasp of issues.

“Is there anybody better equipped to become a Galway city minister than Hildegarde? I don’t think so. She has all the credentials and is the perfect candidate for a Galway ministerial post,” added Mr McDonagh.

The Fine Gael heavyweight within the local organisation gave his backing to senator Naughton ahead of the official launch of her campaign over the weekend.

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