All eyes on Fine Gael in Galway City Central ward

It may be the smallest local electoral ward in the city, but Galway City Central has some of the biggest personalities on Galway City Council and when it comes to the next elections there could be a number of surprises in store.

Because it only elects four members to the local authority, the ward often commands the least attention and while it has thrown up the occasional bit of controversy, it is largely predictable.

It has become something of a Labour stronghold over the past decade with Councillor Billy Cameron and Cllr Collette Connolly being returned in 2004 and then again in 2009, although Connolly had to rely on significant transfers before eventually crossing the line in the final count.

The electoral ward was enlarged between these two elections to take in a significant chunk of the city including Bohermore, Prospect Hill, College Road, Woodquay, Eyre Square and the Docks area.

There was an increase in the electorate by around 700 voters and it resulted in Cllr Ollie Crowe winning a crucial seat for Fianna Fáil from his Bohermore base. However, the tally figures would also show that he had wide appeal across the electoral area.

Cameron, who is in the news at the moment over the controversial Che Guevara statue, topped the poll on the last occasion and was elected on the first count. He may have expressed some doubts about running the last time, but he will definitely be in the frame on the next occasion and at this stage looks certain to be re-elected.

It will be a source of concern for Connolly that her vote dropped and had to rely heavily on transfers from Green Party candidate Mairead Ni Chroinin and Independent Mike Cubbard. She will be striving hard to prevent any further erosion of her vote.

On the last occasion Fine Gael ran just one candidate, Cllr Padraig Conneely, and not surprisingly he polled nearly a quota. His outspoken tendencies and his willingness to ‘take on’ city officials have made him hugely popular with a certain element of the electorate.

If the party decide to adopt a similar approach and run a single candidate strategy, then Conneely would win the seat hands down but there are suggestions within Fine Gael that this will not happen again and that in 2014 there will be a second candidate.

In this regard there is huge speculation surrounding the possibility of well known local footballer and college student, Eddie Hoare, throwing his name into the ring and if this was the case, he would present a huge challenge to Conneely.

Hoare is one of the stalwarts for the St Michael’s GAA Club where he lines out at midfield. He has also played U-21 and senior for Galway and well as winning a county intermediate championship with his club back in 2008. His family are extremely well known in the area.

Indeed, he canvassed for Conneely in the last Local Elections in 2009 and it is widely rumoured at the moment that he may have political ambitions and he would have the potential to command a substantial vote.

It would be an intriguing battle between the two individuals if it happened with some political commentators believing that it would be the ultimate in ‘spectator sport’ if Conneely and Hoare ran head-to-head.

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