PDs facing tough struggle as high-profile ex-mayor retires

Not many politicians have poems written about them, and certainly not many local representatives. However, when Cllr Bridie O'Flaherty became mayor of Galway, it inspired the author, Rita Ann Higgins, to put pen to paper.

She wrote a poem, The Day Bridie O'Flaherty was made Mayor, a contemporary classic, first published in 1986.

But then Cllr O'Flaherty was bound for immortality, according to many admirers who have paid tribute to her over the last few weeks as she approaches retirement from public life.

To the great regret of her party, the Progressive Democrats, both she and party colleague Ald Martin Connolly - two of the corporation's longest-serving public representatives - have opted for the modest retirement package along with Labour councillor Mr Jim Mullarkey.

Cllr O'Flaherty has handed over the mantle to her daughter, Terry, who will be running in her mother's north-east ward constituency on June 11th, along with fellow first-timers, Gary Creavan and Declan McDonnell.

The PDs regard Galway with great fondness, given their stunning success in 1991 when they returned eight councillors - four in Galway city and four in the county. However, it is predicted they will be lucky to hold two seats this time.

Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hold four seats each on the corporation, and both parties are determined to improve on their fortunes this time round, while Labour has been out canvassing for several months in an effort to increase its representation.

If controversy surrounded Fine Gael's (unsuccessful) efforts to find a second candidate for the European elections in Connacht-Ulster, it has also dogged the party in Galway city. Two months after he failed to be selected at the party's local convention, Cllr Fintan Coogan has been added to the ticket in the north-east ward by the national executive.

Four new names were put on the Fianna Fail ticket. Among those high-profile candidates likely to be returned is Senator Margaret Cox, who took a strong stance on the Mutton Island sewage treatment plant issue, and has recently been very vocal on debates about child care and more playgrounds for the State's fastest-growing city.

Housing, transport, improved facilities and traffic are the main issues among the urban electorate, while environmental issues such as turf cutting rights and the proposed EU Special Areas of Conservation are hot issues in the sprawling county, where nine of the 30 serving representatives are not running again. ail deputy, Padraig McCormack, who currently holds a "triple mandate" as TD, and city and county councillor. He is focusing on the city this time out.

The Fine Gael councillor for Connemara, J.J. Mannion, has been particularly vocal on the SAC issue, claiming that the designations contain a number of "stings in the tail" for farmers.

However, waste management - or the lack of it - is the one controversy common to both areas. Following a High Court decision to close down the corporation dump at Carrowbrowne, Galway has been embroiled in rows about its waste disposal.

Consultants who were commissioned to carry out a waste management plan have laid much emphasis on recycling, but have also been asked to come up with sites for a proposed incinerator and a new landfill area - to succeed the "temporary" dump site for the city and county in Ballinasloe.

The Labour Party, which is running some very energetic new candidates, has been focusing on the housing crisis and on transport issues.

Among Labour's new faces is Derrick Hambleton, the articulate taxi driver who is also chairman of Galway's An Taisce branch and who was very active in the Mutton Island sewage treatment plant controversy. Marc O Riain, also a Labour candidate, has published what he describes as his vision for an integrated public transport system in Galway, to cater for new housing developments in areas like Knocknacarra and Clybaun.

Fianna Fail has identified the provision of commuter train services to "suburbs" such as Renmore, Oranmore and Athenry, with extensions to Tuam, Gort and Ballinasloe, as part of its policy for Galway. Green Party candidate for Galway city's west ward, Pat Fizpatrick, is focusing on the waste issue, while former Sinn Fein party member, Mike Egan, is running as an Independent in the city's west ward. The party has selected Vincent Forde as its candidate in that area, and has earmarked housing, health and unemployment for its canvass.

Issues relating to the fishing industry have provided fuel for Republican Sinn Fein's candidate for Galway County Council in Connemara, Tomas O Curraoin. He has been critical of EU-driven measures, such as reduced sheep stocking and bans on turf cutting. Among the Independents, the candidate who polled the highest vote in Co Galway at the last local elections, Seamus Gavin, confirmed last month that he intends to stand again in Connemara. Mr Gavin has been involved in community work and local voluntary organisations for the past 26 years.