Presidential hopefuls a no-show in Galway as only three attend meeting – ‘Lucky you walked in the door’
None of the seven candidates that were due to appear in front of Galway City Council on Monday have been chosen for the run to the Áras, with only three showing up in what was a disappointing turnout in City Hall.
Seven presidential hopefuls were scheduled to appear before Galway City Council at 4pm on Monday, September 15, but only three ultimately turned up.
Although candidates were asked to be present from the start, when Mayor Mike Cubbard opened the meeting at 4.14pm, the chamber was empty.
Non-party councillor Donal Lyons proposed holding the meeting until 4.30pm to allow for late arrivals, warning that if no candidates appeared, the session would be adjourned, and applicants would lose their chance to present.
Cllr Niall McNelis supported the proposal, comparing the situation to “arriving late to a job interview” and stressing respect for “this chamber and these councillors” in fulfilling the democratic process “within the constitution”.
Administrators confirmed that candidates had been assigned individual time slots, though councillors questioned whether it was fair to end the meeting before those scheduled slots. All candidates, however, had been asked to arrive before the meeting began. In-person attendance for those seeking nominations was required.
Two candidates on the confirmed list arrived within the time frame to officially begin their presentations, while a third one arrived mid-meeting.
Non-party councillor Terry O’Flaherty asked each candidate about their history in local elections and party affiliations, while Fine Gael councillor Frank Fahy questioned them in Irish about their fluency in the language.
The first of the three eventual attendees, Diarmaid Mulcahy, originally from Kerry but living in Galway for 20 years, opened his remarks in Irish, pre-emptively answering Cllr Fahy’s question.
A man with a long list of community organisations to his name and bidding for the presidency with a “huge focus on peace-making” was Mr Mulcahy.
Mr Mulcahy, who highlighted his long involvement in community organisations, said he would bring a “huge focus on peace-making” to the role. He emphasised the importance of being “very mindful about what is happening overseas” and argued that “a lot of Irish people believe there are better things elsewhere” than at home.
Cllr Lyons criticised his late arrival, telling him: “You are very lucky that you just walked through that door.” He also remarked that he had not previously heard of Mr Mulcahy, despite his strong record in Knocknacarra community groups.
Presidential hopeful Nick Delehanty. Photo: Don MacMonagle
Next was solicitor Nick Delehanty, who had already addressed Roscommon councillors and has styled himself as the “Irish Charlie Kirk” reported by the Irish Independent. Mr Delehanty argued the process was difficult for candidates presenting in multiple locations, saying “the structure lends its way to that”.
With more than 28,000 Instagram followers and a strong TikTok presence, he positioned himself as a candidate targeting young people. “Democracy only works with high levels of engagement,” he said, “they are so immersed in video content, they know sincerity when they see it.”
His campaign, he added, is entirely crowdfunded, with over €40,000 raised so far and an average donation of €36. He also outlined plans for a new project, ‘Breaking Point’, a series of panel discussions to be hosted on campuses and in hotels.
The final speaker was Donegal entrepreneur and construction professional Keith McGory, who focused heavily on the housing crisis, a theme shared by all candidates. Wearing a tricolour pin and cross on his lapel, he promised to pursue a “safe, inclusive and respectful” Ireland through stronger housing policy.
Mr McGory argued that “there is business going on there, it’s not just ceremonial.” He pledged to serve as an “active president” but stressed he would take a “natural passive route” to the office by seeking only council nominations and self-funding his campaign.
His presentation focused on his credentials in tackling the housing crisis, but he failed to address key questions about the powers and responsibilities of the presidency. Many councillor questions went unanswered.
Today's News in 90 Seconds - September 16th
Despite the rocky start, three candidates presented, though none secured a nomination by the formal adjournment at 6.27pm.
Cllr Alan Cheevers praised their efforts, saying: “All three have a contribution to political life,” but added that he would ultimately support his own party’s candidate.