Bradley Bytes – A sort of political column by Dara Bradley

John Connolly, Galway West’s newest TD, has been involved in electoral politics for over two decades.

And yet it was interesting how some, albeit relatively inexperienced, observers outside of Galway wondered whether he was the 1970s All-Star and All-Ireland icon of the Castlegar Connolly hurling dynasty.

He’s not, of course. But the former City Councillor is playing senior hurling now, one of 48 Fianna Fáil TDs elected to the 34th Dáil.

It must have finally hit the new Teachta Dála that his post-election life was to change forever, when he didn’t alight the Galway-Heuston train last Tuesday fortnight in Athenry, where he has been a primary school principal . . . and instead continued his journey to the Capital, to sign in for his first day in his new job.

So, who is John Connolly, TD?

First elected to Galway City Council in the West Ward in June 2004, the headline in the Galway City Tribune – ‘Newcomer gives FF a rare fillip’ – summed up his victory.

Connolly, aged 24 in his first election, bucked the trend locally by topping the poll at a time when Fianna Fáil lost three of its five seats.

From Boleybeg, the former schoolteacher in Rosscahill grew up on the western most fringe of the city boundary on Cappagh Road, Bearna. He joined Fianna Fáil in the 1990s, inspired by Taoiseach Albert Reynolds’ work on the Peace Process.

Connolly learned the ropes from the late Michael Leahy, whose daughter, Mary Leahy canvassed for him in the recent campaign.

The high of 2004, was followed by a low five years later in 2009, when Connolly was unseated. Afterwards, he said he was looking forward to spending more time with family but in an interview with the Connacht Sentinel, didn’t rule out a return.

When Connolly sat out the 2014 Local Elections, a political comeback was unlikely. But Fianna Fáil struggled to find a running mate for Éamon Ó Cuív in the 2016 General Election and Connolly re-entered the fray.

Along with Headford Councillor Mary Hoade, Connolly was considered a ‘sweeper’ for the main man . . . but he polled remarkably well. In fact, with better vote management, FF should have taken two seats, instead of rivals Fine Gael.

Between 2009 and 2016 he remained active – he was chair of CLG Bhearna and involved with the Olympic Boxing Club in Westside – and the 2016 result renewed his appetite for politics.

Elected for a second Council term in 2019, he was re-elected last June, and when Ó Cuív retired, Connolly was selected to contest the General Election alongside Gráinne Seoige.

We won’t rehash the friction of those running mates, with head office favouring the TV broadcaster and the grassroots plumping for Connolly, but he is now Mr Fianna Fáil in Galway West.

Of the Ó Cuív mould; he’s old school Fianna Fáil – republican, conservative, Catholic, into GAA. He opposed his party’s ‘Confidence and Supply’ arrangement with Fine Gael, and their subsequent Coalition, and now finds himself entering Government with the Blueshirts, with an outside chance of a junior ministry.

And he has a talent, unknown to many, for fancy footwork. When John was about 12 years old, he travelled to Germany with a squad from Galway Hibs to play against local youngsters there.

One of the coaches from that trip recalled that one evening, when the young lads had been dispatched to bed, the group’s German hosts gave a superb display of dancing talent. The Galwegians realised they couldn’t compete.

Then they’d a brainwave, recalling they’d a top-class Irish dancer in their midst. John Connolly. He was roused from his slumber by the adults who prevailed upon him to spare their blushes and restore Ireland’s pride. Light-footed John did that in style, then went back to bed, leaving the adults to bask in the glory.

For this election, he needed all that composure and sure-footedness. But those who had witnessed his twinkle-toed performance in Germany weren’t a bit surprised at his success!

Pictured: John Connolly TD, with supporters after his election in early December