Two Galway TDs set to lose seats, say bookies

At least two Galway West TDs are set to lose their seats in the next general election . . . according to the bookies who have just released odds on what they predict will happen in 2016.
According to the bookies it is grim reading for Labour’s Derek Nolan and Fine Gael’s Sean Kyne although party sources suggest that Kyne’s party colleague Brian Walsh is more in danger of losing his seat.
It is around 12 to 15 months before the next general election but already there is intense speculation about who will be ousted as part of the current Fine Gael and Labour arrangement.
There is speculation that Fine Gael and Labour will lose seats in Galway West and that Sinn Féin and Independents could make gains on the back of this.
Mulholland Bookmakers have released odds that suggest that Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív will top the poll and will be followed into the Dáil by Independent TD Noel Grealish.
The bookies then expect that Cllr Catherine Connolly will take the third seat and this would be at the expense of Labour’s Derek Nolan.
Connolly came close to a seat last time out and with Nolan’s support expected to plummet, she is predicted to win a seat in the constituency. She resigned from Labour several years ago.
According to Mulholland’s they are giving the fourth seat to Fine Gael’s Brian Walsh but it has been noted in political circles that Deputy Sean Kyne has been making a lot of ground on his party colleague.
Then it is a toss-up between Sinn Féin candidates Trevor Ó Clochartaigh in South Connemara and the city-based councillor Mairéad Farrell, who many believe has the potential to take a seat. SF are quoted at even money to take the final seat.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.