CITY COUNCIL PROFILE: GALWAY:WATER QUALITY is synonymous with Galway, and should be on the mind of the city electorate. Traffic, over-development and cutbacks in health and education should also be large local issues, but candidates attest to a "national mood" among voters faced so far.
Galway city’s electoral boundary map has been redrawn to reflect a 26 per cent increase in population between 1996 and 2006. What is more confusing is that boundary names have changed – the old south ward has become Galway City West, the west ward is now Galway City Central and the north and east ward has become Galway City East. This has resulted in a reshuffling of candidates in some areas, all determined to take their share of the 15 seats.
Fianna Fáil has been working hard to make up for a poor showing in 2004, with only three seats taken back then. If national opinion polls mean anything the party won’t improve on this – but, as one commentator noted, the “unthinkable can happen”.
Sitting Galway West TDs, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív and Frank Fahey, have been active, endorsing the party’s “new direction” for the city council published on Monday.
Fianna Fáil minders ensured that first-time candidate, solicitor Peter Keane, stood right on the Taoiseach’s shoulder for the cameras during Mr Cowen’s visit to Galway last month.
At the same time, several of the party’s candidates, notably sitting councillor Michael Crowe, and west candidate Val Hanley, have been accused of trying to distance themselves from their roots.
“Childish” is how former Sinn Féin councillor, now Independent, Daniel Callanan has described it; he is running in the same electoral area as Mr Hanley.
Several current incumbents are regarded as unassailable, although this may not be what they want to hear. Former Labour mayor now Independent councillor Catherine Connolly is regarded as very hard working, while former PD councillors Donal Lyons in the west, Declan McDonnell and Terry O’Flaherty are also standing as Independents and have a strong popular vote.
Fine Gael mayor Padraig Conneely has shown no fear in his dealings with the council. His party colleague, John Mulholland, is also regarded as safe.
If Labour is to gain from a “bounce” it may be in the east where Derek Nolan is standing again, while Niall McNelis is pinning his hopes on Michael D Higgins afficionados.
Green Party former mayor Niall Ó Brolcháin is regarded as a candidate of integrity but will have his work cut out in the competitive west. Sinn Féin performed well in the old north and east ward in 2004, which may favour Martin Concannon, who is standing in the east.
A number of Independents are running, including AJ Cahill in the west, Mike Cubbard in Galway city central and Mike Geraghty, a PD candidate in 2004.
Galway City Council: 15 seats
How the parties stand (outgoing):
FF 3
FG 3
Lab 3
GP 1
Others 5
Share of vote 2004
FF 19%
FG 17%
Lab 16%
GP 2%
SF 8%
PD 23%
Others 14%