Kenny’s fondness for Galway – and the city’s golden girls
Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley
Like many ‘Mayos’, perhaps bored with the back of beyond, Enda Kenny was drawn to Galway. And, as the first West of Ireland Taoiseach, it was only natural that he’d feel at home in this city, the capital of Connacht.
Kenny studied at UCG, now NUIG, back in the day. And as Taoiseach, was a regular visitor, although regrettably, his handlers and PR people steered him away from the Galway Races – and its associations with Fianna Fáil’s fundraising tent.
More’s the pity. Kenny, a man of the people, would have been better off telling his gurus where to go, ignoring the begrudging Dublin-media, and done what his instinct told him – mix with the ordinary punters at Ballybrit.
What his handlers couldn’t keep him away from was pints of Guinness in O’Connell’s Bar in Eyre Square after Connacht Rugby games, and local ladies of a certain vintage.
Yes, the bould Enda had a soft spot for Galway centenarians.
As he passed on the baton of leader of the country and party to Leo Varadkar, Blueshirts in Galway last week recalled Enda’s impromptu visit to a supporter in Clifton Park, in Newcastle.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.