No broomstick or Mercs for hybrid-hound McNelis

Though it will disappoint some of you to learn that Harry Potter lookalike, Mayor Niall McNelis, doesn’t in fact travel by broomstick, many more of you will be pleased to hear of his mayoral car of choice: a hybrid. Previous mayors have enjoyed being chauffeured around the city in top-of-the-range BMWs and Mercedes but McNelis has opted for a more modest model: a Ford. And not just any old Ford; an environmentally friendly one at that. The Ford Mondeo Vignale hybrid apparently gives the best of both petrol and electric cars. It uses petrol to power longer journeys and the electric battery is used for short journeys and at low speeds. The high-voltage battery recharges using friction in the brakes. It’s more efficient and produces fewer emissions. We’re told Mayor McNelis’ choice of motor has nothing to do with Green Party candidate Pauline O’Reilly having an impact on the ground, and it has everything to do with symbolism. “Galway is a Green Leaf City, and if we’re serious about that and about the environment, then the First Citizen should be leading by example,” said Niall. That’s the official line but in layman’s language he just thinks the hybrid Ford is “super cool”. He’s no rival to bicycle queen of the Claddagh Deputy Catherine Connolly but environmentally-conscious Niall has been spotted now and again on the city’s bike scheme bicycles, although it’s amazing he found one that works. Upon taking over the chains of office, Niall requested that a hybrid be put into the tender for the mayoral car, and Motorpark won – keeping it local. Labour Councillor McNelis is a former Fine Gael candidate. And so his mode of transport reflects his politics: a car of many parts for a man of many parties.

Ollie finds fire in FF belly At last, Fianna Fáil has found fire in its belly. An unlikely stoker of the flames, he might be, but it took Galway City Councillor Oliver Crowe to reawaken some pride in the Soldiers of Destiny . . .

For more Bradley Bytes see this week's Galway City Tribune 

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