Pat Hynes would be a mayor for all the people of the county. In his address to Galway County Councillors on his election on Thursday, Councillor Hynes thought it proper to quote from the council's corporate plan: "Develop a County where the Irish language and culture are cherished and where cultural diversity is celebrated and participation in the arts is encouraged." That is the part of the Galway County Council's vision that links into the soul and spirit of the county.

Councillor Hynes is a good Loughrea man, a former publican with an admiration for the republican values in our history. He is deeply interested in Irish music and he has travelled the roads of east Galway and Connemara in pursuit of jigs and reels and hornpipes. But before he got as far as the mayoral chair in Galway County Council last Thursday, Councillor Hynes had to listen to a song and dance from Connemara councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig about the Mayor's and the County Council's duty towards areas west of the Corrib.

Councillor Ó Cuaig was seconding Councillor Bridie Willer's proposal that Pat Hynes be made mayor of the county for 2005/2006. But Ó Cuaig stressed that the new Mayor would have to support demands such as a new road, new swimming pool etc for Connemara. It couldn't all be music and language. The Council had not danced as well for Connemara as it should have, Councillor Ó Cuaig said - with a message for his colleagues in the "technical coalition" in the county council, it appears.

However, we were soon into an old fashioned east v west clash with Cllr Tomás Mannion of Fianna Fáil telling Cllr Ó Cuaig that they didn't have any minister in East Galway shelling out shillings at every crossroads like Minister Ó Cuív in Connemara. But Cllr Hynes kept to the high ground and the corporate principles that would guide him and the Council in an increasingly diversified county - with people from many counties and many countries taking up residence within our borders.

Máirtín Ó Catháin (The view from the Hills) - Galway Advertiser; 16/6/05

Loughrea man, Pat Hynes, has been elected as the new Mayor of County Galway. At last Thursdayd's meeting of Galway County Council, two names were put forward for the position - Clir. Hynes and Connemara representative Clir. Seamus Walsh (FF).

Independent Councillor Hynes was proposed by Clir. Bridie Willers, and seconded by Clir. Seosamh Ó Cuáig (sic).
"He is a good man, has respect for the county and Connemara, respect for Irish, Irish music and the good people of Connemara - that's important," said Clir. Ó Cuáig (sic), before listing out a number of issues that need addressing in his constituency.
"I know youd'll Iook after Loughrea and East Galway, if you don't look after Connemara, you'Il hear about it!"

Councillor Seamus Walsh was proposed by Clir. Tomás Mannion, who said that "each electoral area should get a crack of the whip ... This is both an honour for the individual and for the electoral area as weIl, and I'd ask you to take this into consideration when electing a Mayor." However, the position of Galway Countyd's first citizen went East again, by a slight majority of 15 to 13.

"In the true tradition of my predecessors I intend to serve my term of office with a spirit of commitment, vision and equality," said the new Mayor.
"Such a tradition was most reccntly displayed by the outgoing Mayor, Clir. Willie Burke, to whom I wish to pay tribute for his strong leadership during the past twelve months. You have set a very high precedent for those who succeed you."
He added that, as Mayor, he would bear the objectives of the Council to the forefront of his mind for the next 12 months.

Mayor Hynes praised the constant help given by his partner, Ann Gordon, and the people - of all political persuasions - who supported him from the beginning of his career.
"I think of those canvassers going back the years .... I am here to serve all the people of County Galway."

His fellow Councillors were quick to praise the new Mayor. Clir. James Joyce said: "He is a great member of a Gaelic Clan - the Hynes' were one of the clans of East Galway. At one state, the Iands of Hynes were taken over by the De Burgos (Burke), among others, but today the Hynes' have taken the chain back from De Burgo."

Clir. Tomás Mannion said that he had no doubt that his commitment and sincerity would be kept to the forefront tbroughout the forthcoming year.

"No nicer guy could become Mayor, I mean that sincerely," said Clir. Tom Reilly.

Clcr. Michael Fahy said: "The Council have a very safe pair of bands in you. You'll have my fulI co-operation."

Athenry's Peter Feeney (FG) was elected Deputy Mayor, after another marginal win over the other candidate, Clcr. Seamus Walsh.

It was not all doom and gloom for the latter though, who recently rejoined Fianna Fáil after years representing his constituents as an Independent candidate: "This is a joyous day for Séamus, he's firmly back in the fold," said Clcr. Michael Mullins.

Tributes were also paid to the outgoing Deputy Mayor, Clcr. Tom McHugh, and Mayor, Clcr. Willie Burke, who described his past year as very special."
"I have travelled the length and breadth of the Country. Galway is unbeatable in its affable, hospitable and welcoming communities. The warmth of the small rural communities that are dotted throughout this County, that form the very fabric of it, will remain steadfast and etched in my memory for many years to corne," he said.

Tá tuairimiocht ann nach bhfuil an Comhairleoir Contae, Seosamh Ó Cuaig ar a sháimhin só sa "gComhaontas Teicniúil" atá i gceannas ar Chomhairle Chontae na Gaillimbe faoi láthair. Nuair a bhi an Comhairleoir Pádraig Ó hEidhin as Baile Locha Riach dá thoghadh mar Chathaoirleach ar an gComhairle Contae an tseachtain seo caite, rinne Ó Cuaig ráiteas láidir inar dhúirt sé nach bhfuil Conamara ag fáil cothrom na Féinne ón gComhairle Contae. Luaigh sé go dteastódh tacaíocht iomlán an Mhéara don mholadh go gcuirfi bóthar nua as iarthar Chonamara go Gaillimh agus linn snámha phoibli i gConamara.
Bhi an-mheas aige ar an gComhairleoir Ó hEidhin, adeir sé, ach bheifí ag coinneáil súil air freisin, adeir Ó Cuaig. Tharraing an ráiteas tuairimiocht nach raibh an Comhairleoir Ó Cuaig sásta leis an tacaiocht atá sé a tháil dá pholasaí ceithre phointe dhéag, polasaí a leag sé sios nuair a thacaigh sé leis an "gComhaontas Teicniúil" (Fine Gael, Lucht Oibre, Sinn Féin agus Neamhspleách) bliain ó shin.
Ghlac an "Comhaontas Teicniúil" smacht polaitiúil ar an gComhairle Contae an uair sin.

Sa ráiteas a rinne sé direaclh sular toghadh an Méara nua - ráiteas a bhain geit as cuid de bhaill an Chomhaontais Theicniúil de réir a gcuid "geáitsi" - dúirt Ó Cuaig gur theastaigh tacaiocht le bóthar nua a chur as iarthar Chonamara go Gaillimh agus le linn snámha phoibli a chur i gConamara, agus rudai eile lena chois sin. In agallamh ina dhiaidh sin, dúirt Ó Cuaig nach bhféadfai a dhul i mbannaí go mbeadh sé dilis don "Chomhaontas Teicniúil" ar feadh tréimhse cúig bliana na Comhairle Contae. Ach, cá ngabhfadh sé?

Ar ndóigh, d'fhéadfadh Ó Cuaig fanacht neamhspleách beag beann ar ghrúpa ar bith sa gComhairle Contae. Sin nó an mbeadh sé sásta tacú le Fianna Fáil? Tuigtear go mbeadh suim ag roinnt de Chomhairleoirí Fhianna Fáil Ó Cuaig a thabhairt isteach i socrú eicint; bhi cúpla comhrá cosáin ar bun faoi sin le gairid is cosúil, ach ni dheachaigh sé thairis sin... fós ar chuma ar bith.

Ta ceathrar Comhairleoiri ag Fianna Fáil i gConamara agus d'théadfadh sé gur túisce a chuirfi polasaithe don cheantar chun cinn dá mbeadh Ó Cuaig agus Thomas Welby (Páirti Daonlathach) as Uachtar Árd ina dteannta. Thabharfadh sin lámh i bhfad nios láidre do Chonamara sa gComhairle Contae.

Mar atá sé anois, tá an Comhairleoir Ó Cuaig ina chadnain aonraic i gConamara, cé is moite do Sheán Kyne (Fine Gael) as Maigh Cuilinn, atá ar imeall na cathrach dáirire. Ach, gan dabht, beidh ceann feadhna stuama Fhine Gael, an Comhairleoir Iarla Mac Donnchadha ag coinneáil suil ghéar ar na himeachtaí seo.

Máirtín Ó Catháin Foinse 19/6/05