'I believe in a Galway First approach': City mayor enters by‑election to replace Catherine Connolly

Galway West by-election will be held in May to fill the seat vacated by Connolly when she became president of Ireland

Mike Cubbard: 'I won’t apologise to anybody in this country for saying Galway has to be front and centre.'

The mayor of Galway city is to contest the Galway West by-election triggered by Catherine Connolly’s inauguration as president of Ireland.

Mike Cubbard, a 40-year-old independent councillor who describes himself as centre-right, said he would contest the election with a “Galway First” message.

The Westside native topped the poll in Galway City Central in three local elections.

The Galway West by-election will be held in May to fill the seat vacated by Ms Connolly when she became president of Ireland.

Mr Cubbard said he feels that he has gained the experience to “step up to the next level” after being a local representative for several years.

He said there is “sheer frustration” about a “lack of fairness of investment” in the Galway area, with requirements in transport and wastewater infrastructure.

“I think the time is now, I really do believe in a common-sense approach and a ‘Galway First’ approach, putting Galway at the front and centre of my decision-making.” 

Asked about his views on President Connolly, Mr Cubbard said he admired her “social views in particular” and the way she spoke up for people who felt under-represented.

Mr Cubbard said it would have been unlikely for a third independent such as himself to have got elected in the last general election alongside Ms Connolly and now-Minister of State Noel Grealish, but thinks there is a potential independent seat up for grabs in the by-election.

He said he would work with Government and the opposition to back proposals that were “good for Galway”.

'Galway First'

Asked if his “Galway First” slogan was inspired by US president Donald Trump’s use of “America First”, the candidate said it was not and added that it was about seeking “the same treatment” and investment as Dublin.

Mr Cubbard said: “Being an independent, I’m not going to be shy and I won’t apologise to anybody in this country for saying Galway has to be front and centre, and my job would be to get the best results for Galway city and county.” 

Asked about recent attention on Galway City Council’s spending hundreds of euro chauffeuring him to Dublin Airport for a trip to Morocco, Mr Cubbard said he had not been aware of the contract arranged by the local authority and added “it does seem excessive”.

“If I’m told to go to the event on a bicycle — that’s fine, I’ll do it. The city council arranged the contract, it’s their problem.” 

Other candidates in the Galway West by-election include senator Sean Kyne (Fine Gael), councillor Helen Ogbu (Labour Party), councillor Noel Thomas (formerly Fianna Fáil, now with Independent Ireland), and independent councillor Thomas Welby.

They will also face trade unionist Mark Lohan (Sinn Féin), mental health activist Mide Nic Fhionnlaoich (Social Democrats), illustrator Denman Rooke (People Before Profit), teacher Orla Nugent (Aontú), and software engineer Niall Murphy (Green Party).