Wade’s late free sends Turlough out of title race

Date Published: {J}

BETTING on the local elections in Galway City suggests that the vast majority of sitting councillors will be returned with Mayor Padraig Conneely, Declan McDonnell and Donal Lyons heading their respective polls.

In fact, in the case of a half a dozen sitting councillors, no prices are being offered by bookmakers who feel that their seats are already guaranteed. However, the news is not good for one sitting councillor who is being given only an outside chance of retaining his seat.

Former Sinn FŽin councillor Daniel Callanan won his Council seat in the former North and East Ward but now runs in the new five seater Galway City West (the old South Ward).

But according to Mulholland Bookmakers, he is one of the outsiders in the race with the likes of Hildegarde Naughton (FG), Val Hanley (FF), Peter Keane (FF) and Neil McNelis (Lab) all shorter prices to win a seat.

In this area, Cllr Lyons is the clear favourite to top the poll. The former PD is 1/4 to achieve the highest number of first preferences and the bookies are not offering any odds on him retaining his seat.

The same applies to…