Praying for divine intervention – to pick up bar tab

Though the invite was very late arriving by fax, we thought it rude not to attend the new mayor’s party last week. We, like most attendees, went out of politeness and a sense of duty . . . nothing at all to do with the free bar.

In fairness to the newest first citizen, City Councillor Pádraig Conneely, ‘twas a good auld party out the back of O’Connell’s Bar, Eyre Square.

The sun was shining, the barbeque was going ninety, the pints were flowing, Don Stiffe was rattling out the tunes and the craic, as they say, was mighty.

Even Galway West Fine Gael TD Seán Kyne, who can often look uncomfortable at these types of social events, appeared to be enjoying himself.

What, we wondered, was the secret to such a successful mayoral bash? “I went to Mass that morning down at the Poor Clares’ and prayed for fine weather and that it would go well,” revealed Pádraig.

Now if only the Poor Clares could pray hard enough to make his bar tab disappear . . .

Insider story of Mayor’s Party

We could fill several columns with the goings-on at the mayoral bash but we won’t bore you, and will keep it to a dozen observations.

Sight of the Night: Outgoing mayor, Terry O’Flaherty showing off bruises on her leg, still visible through her dark-coloured tights. The scars were picked up when she fell climbing Croagh Patrick.

Functional Fashion of the Night: Terry, again. Now that she has no mayoral car to chauffeur her round, she wore flat shoes in case she had to walk home to Mervue.

Conspicuous Absentee of the Night: Independent City Councillor Donal Lyons. We wondered why Donal wasn’t there. “He hasn’t gone to one in ages,” snorted one of his colleagues, who declined to elaborate.

Most Unwelcome Invited Guest of the Night: Too many to mention – the host has many political enemies!

X-Factor Moment of the Night: No contest here. Labour Party City Councillor Nuala Nolan wins hands-down. The Bacardi and Coke, we reckon, gave Nuala the ‘Dutch courage’ to grab the microphone off Don Stiffe and regale us with her crowd-pleasing rendition of the Tennessee Waltz.

Party Animals of the Night: No contest here either. St Michael’s GAA Club members . . . still on a high after beating Killererin in the senior championship.

Sour Pusses of the Night: The rest of the Labour Party councillors in attendance . . . apparently not enough champagne or smoked salmon for these ‘socialists’.

Quote of the Night: “They’re either here for the free drink or my seat is in trouble!” – Fianna Fáil City Councillor Ollie Crowe as he watched scores of whom he thought were supporters of his, and committed ‘number ones’, file into his constituency rival’s, the Fine Gael mayor’s party.

Worried Look of the Night: Ollie again, as he muttered the above words.

Most Relieved Look of the Night: Pádraig, when the barmen cut-off the gratis booze.

Early Leavers of the Night: Independent City Councillor Declan McDonnell and new City Manager, Brendan McGrath, were both spotted slipping away early. Not together, we hasten to add.

Late Arrival of the Night: Director of Services Ciarán Hayes, a nemesis of the host (the pair have regularly clashed, publicly) arriving at the top of the queue for the BBQ to be told all the burgers were gone.  Apparently Seán Kyne got the last one . . . no wonder the normally deadpan Moycullen man managed to crack a smile.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.