Galway Bay FM News Archives
VIP treatment from a Boston traffic cop for ‘Senator from West Galway’
Date Published: 30-Mar-2011
Spare a thought this week for the would-be Senators who are driving the thousands of miles around by-roads to court the votes of councillors – knowing that the chances of getting the vote may be remote, but that if you don’t call in person, then you have no chance!
The best estimate the late Senator Pol Ó Foighil used to put on the campaign was that a candidate would have to drive between 15,000 and 20,000 miles in a few weeks to do a proper campaign ….. and that at the end of it all, you had no real idea how many votes you would actually get.
Remember that any successful candidate will have to end up eventually with about 80 votes. Now they may have any number of promises, but these are promises from an electorate made up politicians who may not even vote for candidates from their own party if it suits them, or they fear the emergence of some young whippersnapper who may threaten the status quo in a constituency.
Meanwhile, the stories coming back from the campaign are the stuff the make up the gossip of the political corridors until the next outing.
Former TD Paul Connaughton recalls his one and only campaign for the Senate in 1977 when the ultimate disaster befell him in Fermoy. Said Connaughton: “I was coming out of Fermoy, the car wasn’t the best ….. and the front wheel fell off.”
But there are worse stories. Like the Fine Gael candidate who got a list from Party HQ some years ago of FG councillors around the country and decided to go ‘down the country’ and try to see a number of them over a few days. Armed with his list, he arrived in West Cork some days later and decided to look up one councillor.
It was getting dark and he found himself driving by-roads and boreens in a vain attempt to find the house. So, he pulled in and asked a man who was walking down the road. The man pointed to a house a few fields away and said ‘that’s it, but you’d nearly be better to leave the car and make your way across those two fields.’
Our election hopeful headed off into the fields …. crossing through marshy ground on his way, walking into a drain in his ‘townie shoes’ and eventually got to the farmyard where there was a woman hanging out a line of washing. ‘Is this Councillor So-and-So’s house?’ said he. “It is,’ said the woman, ‘but I’m sorry to say he died six months ago!’
At least he knew where he stood with that vote!
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
