2024 Irish local elections Galway.

What are u on about, you were always going to vote for them , sure you're here regularly defending them.😀

I'll give you an hour to find posts by me regularly defending either party.

I was actually voting SF, Ind, possibly Labour, Ind, then maybe a FG. Now I'll add in the 2. Again, thanks.

Good to know you dont care either way, I always thought you were against it.

I am. It's a waste of time (counting in the decades now) and not going to fix anything.
But my bigger issue is the lack of anything else happening while they've put all their eggs in this ring road basket for the last couple of decades and done nothing else. If it gets passed by ABP this time then fine. If it doesn't, good. Either way they need to start doing other things. So I'll go with the candidate that recognises that and doesn't try and plamas me with waffle about how they're going to get it built/stop it. They have zero ability to influence it now.

And just to bring it back on-topic, this is one of the things that appealed to me about Eibhlin Seoighte. I asked her a general question about traffic and she focused on improving all transport infrastructure; roads, paths, buses, etc. We didn't directly talk about the ring road but she did say something about not waiting around and taking a multi faceted approach.

I am fully in favor of an election for a seat vacated mid - term rather than co-option. More expensive, but will make party's consider the candidates for Local Elections far more carefully and in time will reduce people leaving seats IMHO. Still in favor of restricting term to 2/3 terms - same goes for the Dáil. Have heard of this proposal long before Cllr Murphy ever set foot in Galway City Hall. He didn't invent the idea. Have not a clue about what GP members say on the matter is.

Thought the turnout might be low but out here in Woodford it's been brisk so far.

There's a reason why the likes of Mike Cubbard or Declan McDonnell continuously top the poll, because they are massively involved in the local community and are seen to be working hard to try and get things done, moved along, or whatever else.

You don't have to agree that they're effective, but if you think they're achieving that high level of first preference votes by shouting about the bypass, fixing the odd footpath, and then "putting their feet up for another few years", you're only fooling yourself.

My predictions for locals in the city.

East Ward.

O'flaherty (Ind) to retain seat.

McDonnell( Ind) to retain seat.

Cheevers (FF) to retain seat.

Crowe (FF) retain seat after battle.

Larkin (Ind) retain seat after battle.Might have to wait for last seat.

The other seat will be a toss up between Burke(SF),Forde(FG),Ogbu (LAB),Heaslip(SD),but I expect Burke(SF)to win seat.Honourable mention for Mattias(GP) a tireless campaigner and an affable person.

West Ward.

Lyons (IND) to retain seat.

McNeillis (Lab) to reatin seat.

Higgins (FG) retain seat.

O'Conchur (SF) win seat he lost in 2019.

Curran (SD) win seat.

Remaining seat to be a dogfight between Connolly(FF),Keane(FF),Murphy(GP),with one of the FF's to prevail.

City Central.

Cubbard(IND) to retain seat.

Hoare(FG) retain seat.

Lohan (SF) win seat.

I would expect there to be still one FF seat in the ward so I see Forde(FF) getting a seat.

The last 2 seats will be a tussle bewteen Fahy (FG), ,McDonagh(LAB),Seoighte(SD),Lenihan(AON), and O'Connor (GP).

Haha, central is not my locality. All I've heard from McDonnell is dinosaur views on transport but don't know of the positive contributions he's made in his locality.

Cubbard seemed much more open minded in council discussions I've observed and minutes I've read over. Very approachable and has agreed to meet with groups of differing views which is great to see.

Where is the count tmw?

leisure land . Starts at 9 I think . Galway city east first

Presumably GBFM will be broadcasting from the count? Anyone know the times?

Just listening to GBFM.

The reporter giving early counts from city said that she was speaking to us from Leisureland.

From the tallies it sounds like Eibhlín Seoighthe (SD) is in with a good shout, at the cost of Martina O'Conner (GP). Standing on a lot of similar issues, will be great to get new faces and energy into the council.

https://x.com/Barnacles09?t=J7AbahG0YBrIEUD7p-gAnA

City West tallies indicate Donal Lyons (Ind), Alan Curran (SD), John Connolly (FF), Clodagh Higgins (FG), Niall McNelis (Labour) and Niall Murphy (Green Party)

Shocker for SF if correct

First four councillors elected in the country are all from Galway. Looking likely it will be the first six or seven.

11.15pm and no city councillors elected yet!

City East going to an 8th count, likely get people over the line on count 9.

Meanwhile City Central is going to leapfrog the East and elect the first couple of councilors on the first count very soon with Cubbard and Hoare.

Tuam LEA

https://www.rte.ie/news/elections-2024/results/#/local/galway-county/tuam

That one was finished by teatime.

Leisureland was used to divide the European and Local Votes. As the Local Areas got sorted they went to Westside or GLTC. Boxes were still getting sorted when counts had started in WS an GLTC.

On a similar subject some of the Voting venues need to be looked at. Having a single booth in a classroom and a queue out the door is not right. They should be in halls.

Lesiureland is big enough to do sorting and counts for city and county

Knocknacarra Community Centre at Cappagh Park should be used, it's a much more suitable space.