2024 Irish local elections Galway.

Final stretch for this. Still have to figure out who I'm voting for. I'll probably give Eibhlin from the Soc Dems my 1 since I actually had a good conversation with her and think she'll give it a good go if in, but no idea after that.

I find it easiest to list them according to those I have fewest (or most) reservations about and vote down the list. After eliminating 4 of them totally, I have 12 left in order of preference. I wouldn't wish to see a few of these 12 elected either but if push comes to shove I would prefer them to squeeze in ahead of the 4 I am leaving out completely.

Not really the same at locals since they won't be forming a coalition. There will be unofficial pacts though. They'll start to form on Saturday when the talliers start to get an idea of who will be elected

"I am more disturbed at the fact that a labour party official has access to the front page of a free newspaper (with a circulation of 30k) especially at the time of an election."

Mates rates ;-)

Yea saw that spread, thats paid advertising, no newspaper could refuse a payday like that, probably 5-10k I would imagine.I have to say that since I made my initial observation on the possible political bias displayed by Maxim Kelly he has largely been relegated to the non political stories and seems to concentrate on arts,culture, and gigs.It seems there is still a level of integrity at the GA.

Well the big day is tomorrow,one of the main issues in Galway city is the traffic gridlock as recently highlighted by RTE

https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2024/0529/1452002-galway-traffic/

I support a by pass as part of the solution to the chaos in Galway City and will vote for parties/candidates that reflect that position,I will post guide to party positions below.

Fine Gael- for by pass and PT solutions.

Fianna Fail- For by pass and PT solutions.

Labour- Niall McNeillis supports another bridge and other PT solutions, I assume also a by pass.

Green Party- Vehemently opposes by pass and wants only PT solutions to be considered,the party has been instrumental in delaying by pass for decades even welcoming and supporting the high court decision to halt it.

Social Democrats-not sure to be honest,one of their candidates is a cycling advocate but they are very quiet on the issue.I do recall that one of the last SD councilors was in favour of a small by pass whatever that means,the SD might be running with hare and hunting with the hounds.

Sinn Fein-No sure where they stand at the moment but I think they want a by pass

PBP- Against everything as far as I can see, they may consider a bamboo type structure over the corrib and a ricksaw based PT system.I think they will also mandate bicycles and mao style suits for everybody.

Independents-Most seem to be pro by pass, I have had difficulty getting the necessary information for all the candidates

All the new right wing parties(too numerous to list)- seems they have no policy/solution on the traffic chaos in Galway that I can see.

There you have it folks,my essential guide to local elections, if you are sick to your back teeth about the gridlock in this city, vote for parties/ candidates that actually want to remedy the situation with a comprehensive plan that includes the essential by pass.

No, It's not accurate. High Court cases were brought by Peter Sweetman and Hands Across the Corrib Ltd - neither are affiliated with the Green Party

Can I remind people to rank paper all the way down, your vote will go much further. Example 20 candidates running in City East for 6 seats, that will be a very long count of transfers. Councillors have gotten elected on 1 vote in the past

I can't vote for himself as I live in Dublin now but I would encourage anyone in my childhood ward of Galway West to give Cllr Alan Curran of the Social Democrats their highest possible preference.

We grew up together and are still good friends. He's a rarity in Irish politics imho: honest, capable and well aware that while a Galway City Councillor has limited powers, he can at least do some good in the role.

Cathal said so on local radio a few months ago. Farrell raised issue in Dáil in January

He appears to be everything you say he is and I wish him luck in the election, but no vote vote for him from me as I do not reside his ward.

In all honestly I could not vote for the SDs, they were very cynical in their parachuting of Alan Curran into the East ward after their abysmal handling of the Owen Hanley scandal. They left the East ward under represented knowing full well that Alan C would be contesting the west ward in future elections, it appeared to be a ploy to boost his public profile and was a slap in the face for east ward voters.

Yes, but note that if your first pref is elected on the second or later counts none of your other preferences get used.

That's not strictly true. Your vote could still transfer as part of the distribution of a surplus.

It is a huge conSTITUENCY though

I really think Connemara should be split into 3 wards. Moycullen / Bearna Spiddal in a Connemara City Metro Ward and then have South and North Connemara Ward based on the Gaeltacht. South from Carna to Cois Fharraige and North Oughterard to Clifden

Ya specially when they come along promising to improve things and you're left wondering why they didn't bother doing any of that in the last couple of decades they were in the position. Or my other pet peeve is them promising things they don't have much control over in the job. Which means they're either straight up lying or uninformed of what the job entails. Neither one being great.

I don't need someone that'll fix the potholes outside my house. I need someone that'll work towards a system where all potholes will be fixed.

For the election map nerds

Galway City Elections - Polling Scheme

https://galwaycityco.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9928b3a1f82b42a0b649112b97e0eedc

Has 3 different MAP Layers

• Polling Stations
• Polling Districts
• Electoral Areas

Here is the Galway County map

https://galwaycoco.maps.arcgis.com/apps/View/index.html?appid=c16f76d209df44f69b298e9bd91a51ea

and

https://www.galway.ie/en/services/yourcouncil/voting/localelections2024/

(Connemara North and Ballinasloe are BIG LEA)

Sounds like he listened to the gossip and didn't bother with his own research. Ironically the only other reason I know his name is from when he complained about the media coverage over the council move to Crown Square. This lad will never read past the headline and jump to whatever he thinks is popular.

The Irish do like a bit of cute whorism alright. Like to feel we're getting an inside track. Time to grow up though. That's why we have a lot of the problems we have and no long term thinking.

People need to realise that they're all our potholes!

Keane said the pedestrian crossing lights at Spanish Arch are causing motorist traffic jams - surely you heard that!

If a candidate is elected on the first count, by exceeding the quota, all of their votes will be considered when distributing the surplus.

However, on later counts, when a candidate exceeds the quota, it is only the votes in the last bundle that brought them over the quota that are used in distributing the surplus.

Let's say I give first pref to candidate A, who is a fairly strong candidate. She gets 5,000 votes, quota is 8,000.

First count: A does not reach the quota

2nd count: A receives some distributed votes, but still below the quota

3rd count: same again

4th count: same again

5th count, same again, she is now at 7,500 votes

6th count: she receives 600 votes to bring her over the quota, she now has 8,100 votes.

She is elected.

Her surplus of 100 votes is distributed.

The original 5,000 first prefs are ignored. They only look at the bundle of votes that took her over the quota. An element of randomness is introduced

My vote is buried in the 5,000 pile, and my other prefs will not be used.

https://irelandelection.com/index.php

This website is useful to see results of past elections.

I assume it will be updated during the counts tomorrow.

Where did you see that?

Edit: Never mind. Doesn't really matter. If you're voting based on who's for or against it then it's a bit of a wast of a vote. The Council are already chasing it and resubmitting proposals. They've had it on their vision board for the last 20+ years so don't need councilors lobbying for it. Then it's down to ABP to grant permission or reject again. No local councilor will have any input on that and ABP aren't going to be swayed by a local councilor. And then we're back to my earlier point about them lying or being uninformed of what the position entails.

I'll give both something now knowing that, thanks.