Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

Ireland’s new Finance Minister is a Galway lad.

Jack Chambers, ‘emerging heir apparent’ to Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin, lived in Dublin for most of his life, but he’s Galwegian at heart.

The 33-year-old was born in Galway City, to Mayo parents, who moved to the capital when he was a young child.

It was not widely known what part of Galway he hailed from. When asked, Galway West FF TD Éamon Ó Cuív said he was “not sure”; and Galway East FF TD Anne Rabbitte thought he was from Salthill or Knocknacarra.

But Fianna Fáil headquarters confirmed Jack Chambers was from Tirellan Heights in the city. (Hat tip to Councillor John Connolly who got it right).

A Dublin West TD since he was elected to the Dáil in 2016 at his first attempt, Chambers has swiftly climbed the ranks.

The former Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Gaeltacht and Sport was appointed to the powerful finance portfolio last month – a sure sign he was being lined up as Martin’s successor.

He’s now the youngest serving minister to hold the purse strings since Michael Collins in 1919.

Chambers’ socially conservative outlook on life has evolved to being more in line with liberal Martin’s. Though he opposed the Repeal the 8th Referendum, Chambers, along with other FF TDs, subsequently changed his mind on abortion and is now pro-choice.

Last January, Chambers came out as gay in an Instagram post. Though newsworthy, the announcement was mostly greeted with indifferent shrugs of shoulders and ‘so whats?’.

Chambers’ predecessor Michael McGrath was no stranger to Galway. Former Councillor, Senator Ollie Crowe was a close ally of the Cork man, who launched his General Election campaign in Menlo Park Hotel in 2020. McGrath was a regular at Crowe’s Bar in Bohermore, too, on his visits West.

Chambers returned to Galway recently. As Director of Elections in the Local and European Elections last month, he was a regular on city doorsteps. The trained medical doctor with a degree in law and political science from Trinity College Dublin was particularly helpful canvassing for newcomer Josie Forde, who retained the FF seat in City Central and became the party’s first woman elected to City Hall in 20 years.

If Jack Chambers holds his nerve and doesn’t fluff the biggest test of his political career to date – the October, pre-election Budget – then we could be looking at Galway’s first Taoiseach-in-waiting.

Pictured: Jack Chambers, the new Finance Minister, (left) and Senator Ollie Crowe, canvass a voter in Galway City Central with Fianna Fáil candidate, Josie Forde in last month’s Local Elections to Galway City Council.