Bradley Bytes – A sort of policital column by Dara Bradley
UK pop sensation Adele’s song Hello was the big hit of 2015. And at the final Council meeting of the year, we thought Galway City Councillor Pádraig Conneely was about to burst into reciting lyrics from the song, turning to Director of Services, Joe O’Neill, to sing: “Hello . . . it’s me . . . I must’ve called a thousand times . . .”
Alas, Pádraig didn’t call a thousand times. In fact, he didn’t call Joe at all. Not because he didn’t want to, mind.
No, we suspect Pádraig had a lot on his chest that he’d like to offload during phone conversations with the Director of Services – sure he couldn’t possibly get through everything he’d like to say during their monthly face-to-face meetings in the Council chamber.
Oh no, the reason Pádraig didn’t call is because he doesn’t have Joe’s number.
“He wouldn’t give me his number,” Pádraig rambled to the meeting, only half-sobbingly.
“I’ve been asking for his number for years . . . he won’t give me it,” he snorted, visibly becoming more and more incensed by the injustice of it all.
“And it paid for by the public . . . it’s public money . . . and he won’t give out the number,” harrumphed Pádraig again for fear the Meeja hadn’t heard him the first time.
Every other Councillor glanced around at each other’s reactions to Pádraig’s outburst . . . they were all sporting ‘I wonder is Pádraig the only one of us that doesn’t have Joe’s number?’ expressions.
Joe didn’t rise to the bait. Nor was he forthcoming with his mobile number.
As for Padraig, maybe he should ring RTÉ’s Joe Duffy to complain. His Liveline is always open for crank calls.
More bah humbug
The annual civic Christmas Carol service at St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church is always a cheerful occasion.
It’s also one of a handful of events in the year when our City Councillors get to wear those fancy archaic capes in the ceremonial procession.
But we hear there was something missing from this year’s event, on the Monday of Christmas week.
Or to be more precise there were 11 City Councillors missing.
One of the Councillors that did turn up, tells us that just seven elected members of Galway City Council made it for the ceremonial procession through the church. There were no Fianna Fáilers or Shinners and there were a fair few Independents missing, too.
“And there were no officials either. Maybe Christmas Carols aren’t their thing,” the cheery councillor said tongue-in-cheek.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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