PRESS RELEASE
(In English agus Trí Ghaeilge)
Councillor Frank Fahy Seeks Fine Gael Nomination for Seanad Éireann By-Election
Galway, Ireland – Councillor Frank Fahy has formally submitted his nomination to Fine Gael seeking selection as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming Seanad Éireann by-election.
Councillor Fahy was proposed and seconded as the Galway West nominee at a meeting of the Galway West Constituency Executive held on Friday, 19 June, at the Menlo Park Hotel, Galway. During the meeting, he signed the party’s Seanad pledge in the presence of members and Fine Gael Regional Organiser Michael D. McAndrew, who witnessed the signing.
A native Irish speaker from Menlo, within the Galway City Gaeltacht, Councillor Fahy has served on Galway City Council since 2011. Over fifteen years in local government, he has established a reputation for effective public service, strong community engagement, and a commitment to preserving Galway’s heritage and promoting the Irish language.
First elected following his co-option to Galway City Council in 2011, Councillor Fahy has successfully increased his electoral support at every subsequent local election. He has represented Galway City Central since 2014 and has twice helped secure two Fine Gael seats in the electoral area.
Councillor Fahy has served twice as Deputy Mayor and was Mayor of Galway City in 2015–2016. During his mayoralty, he initiated the restoration of three historic council-owned castles—Menlo Castle, Terryland Castle and Merlin Castle—a programme that has since attracted approximately €1.5 million in local and national investment.
He also played a leading role in advancing Galway’s recognition as a bilingual city, working closely with Gaillimh le Gaeilge. Under his leadership, Galway City Council held its first-ever meeting conducted through the Irish language, attended by President Michael D. Higgins.
Among his other achievements as Mayor, Councillor Fahy facilitated Galway City’s twinning with Menlo Park, California, strengthening historic links between the two communities. He also signed Galway’s successful application to become European Capital of Culture 2020 and represented the city during presentations before the European judging panel.
Throughout his time on Galway City Council, Councillor Fahy has served on numerous Strategic Policy Committees, the Joint Policing Committee, the Heritage Committee, and committees promoting the Irish language. He is also a regular Irish-language commentator for Raidió na Gaeltachta, TG4 and RTÉ News.
Outside the council chamber, Councillor Fahy has chaired the Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees for the past thirteen years, overseeing significant investment in navigation and tourism infrastructure, including the development of the slipway and pontoon at Lisloughrey Pier beside Ashford Castle. This is an ongoing development of visitor facilities in partnership with Mayo County Council which includes car and bus parking facilities.
Within Fine Gael, Councillor Fahy has played an active organisational role. Following the 2019 local elections, he successfully negotiated a new governing pact on Galway City Council, enabling Fine Gael councillors Clodagh Higgins and Eddie Hoare to serve as Mayors during the council term.
He also played a significant role in Fine Gael’s successful Galway West by-election campaign, organising canvassing operations across multiple electoral areas and coordinating campaign activities.
In seeking election to Seanad Éireann, Councillor Fahy says he would focus particularly on representing Galway West, strengthening Fine Gael’s presence throughout the constituency, promoting regional development, and championing the Irish language.
“As a native Irish speaker representing the largest Gaeltacht region in the country, I believe I can provide a strong voice for our communities while helping Fine Gael further strengthen its commitment to the Irish language and Gaeltacht development,” he said.
If elected, Councillor Fahy intends to establish a permanent Fine Gael constituency office in Galway City and hold regular constituency clinics across Galway City, Annaghdown, Castlegar, Turloughmore, Claregalway, Oranmore and the Gaeltacht areas of Connemara, working closely with local councillors, ministers and Oireachtas colleagues.
Councillor Fahy also serves on the Board of Management of St. Patrick’s National School and has previously served on the Board of Management of Scoil Iognáid. He believes his longstanding commitment to Irish culture, education and the promotion of the Irish language makes him particularly suited to nomination on the Cultural and Educational Panel.
Councillor Fahy concluded by reaffirming his commitment to public service, stating that, if elected, he would work to promote the Irish language, support the revitalisation of the Gaeltacht, and represent the interests of Galway West with integrity and dedication.
Ends
Media Contact
Cllr. Frank Fahy
Phone: 087 2345852
Email: frankfahy@live.ie
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PREASEISIÚN DON PHREAS
Iarrann an Comhairleoir Frank Fahy Ainmniúchán Fhine Gael do Fhogha-Thoghchán Sheanad Éireann
Gaillimh, Éire – Tá an Comhairleoir Frank Fahy tar éis a ainmniúchán a chur isteach go foirmiúil chuig Fine Gael, ag lorg roghnúcháin mar iarrthóir an pháirtí don fhothoghchán atá le teacht do Sheanad Éireann.
Moladh agus tacaíodh leis an gComhairleoir Fahy mar ainmní Iarthar na Gaillimhe ag cruinniú de Choiste Feidhmiúcháin Dáilcheantar Iarthar na Gaillimhe, a reáchtáladh Dé hAoine, an 19 Meitheamh, in Óstán Pháirc Mhionlaigh. Le linn an chruinnithe, shínigh sé gealltanas an pháirtí don Seanad i láthair baill agus Eagraí Réigiúnach Fhine Gael, Michael D. McAndrew, a bhí ina fhinné ar an síniú.
Is cainteoir dúchais Gaeilge é an Comhairleoir Fahy as Mionloch, i nGaeltacht Chathair na Gaillimhe, agus tá sé ina bhaill de Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe ó 2011. Le breis agus cúig bliana déag i rialtas áitiúil, tá cáil bainte amach aige as seirbhís phoiblí éifeachtach, rannpháirtíocht láidir phobail, agus tiomantas do chaomhnú oidhreachta na Gaillimhe agus do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge.
Toghadh é den chéad uair i ndiaidh comhroghnúcháin ar Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe in 2011, agus tá méadú bainte amach aige ar a thacaíocht toghcháin i ngach toghchán áitiúil ó shin. Tá ionadaíocht déanta aige ar Lár Chathair na Gaillimhe ó 2014 agus chabhraigh sé faoi dhó le dhá shuíochán de chuid Fhine Gael a dhaingniú sa limistéar toghcháin.
Bhí an Comhairleoir Fahy ina Leas-Mhéara faoi dhó agus ina Mhéara ar Chathair na Gaillimhe in 2015–2016. Le linn a théarma mar Mhéara, chuir sé tús le hathchóiriú trí chaisleán stairiúla faoi úinéireacht na comhairle—Caisleán Mhionlaigh, Caisleán Thír an Ioleán agus Caisleán Pháirc Mheirline. Tá thart ar €1.5 milliún d’infheistíocht áitiúil agus náisiúnta ó shin i leith.
Bhí ról ceannasach aige freisin i gcur chun cinn stádas na Gaillimhe mar chathair dhátheangach, ag obair go dlúth le Gaillimh le Gaeilge. Faoi a cheannaireacht, mar Mheara reáchtáil Comhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe a chéad chruinniú riamh trí mheán na Gaeilge, ar fhreastail an tUachtarán Michael D. Higgins air.
I measc a éachtaí eile mar Mhéara, d’éascaigh an Comhairleoir Fahy cúpláil Chathair na Gaillimhe le Menlo Park, California, rud a neartaigh naisc stairiúla idir an dá phobal. Shínigh sé freisin iarratas rathúil na Gaillimhe le bheith ina Príomhchathair Chultúir na hEorpa 2020 agus rinne sé ionadaíocht don chathair le linn cur i láthair os comhair painéal breithiúnach na hEorpa.
Le linn a thréimhse ar Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, bhí an Comhairleoir Fahy ina bhall de Choistí Beartais Straitéisigh, ar an gComhchoiste Póilíneachta, ar an gCoiste Oidhreachta, agus ar choistí a chuireann an Ghaeilge chun cinn. Is tráchtairí rialta Gaeilge é freisin ar Raidió na Gaeltachta, TG4 agus RTÉ News.
Lasmuigh den seomra comhairle, tá an Comhairleoir Fahy ina chathaoirleach ar Iontaobhaithe Loingseoireachta Loch Coirib le trí bliana déag anuas, ag maoirsiú infheistíochta suntasaí i mbonneagar loingseoireachta agus turasóireachta, lena n-áirítear forbairt an tsleamhnáin agus an phontúin ag Lios Locha Riach in aice le Caisleán Ashford. Tá an fhorbairt seo ar shaoráidí do chuairteoirí fós ar siúl i gcomhpháirt le Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo agus áirítear léi áiseanna páirceála do charranna agus do bhusanna.
Laistigh de Fhine Gael, tá ról eagraíochtúil gníomhach ag an gComhairleoir Fahy. I ndiaidh thoghcháin áitiúla 2019, rinne sé idirbheartaíocht rathúil ar chomhaontú rialaithe nua ar Chomhairle Cathrach na Gaillimhe, rud a chuir ar chumas na gcomhairleoirí Fhine Gael, Clodagh Higgins agus Eddie Hoare, feidhmiú mar Mhéaraí le linn théarma na comhairle.
Bhí ról suntasach aige freisin i bhfeachtas rathúil fothoghcháin Fhine Gael in Iarthar na Gaillimhe, ag eagrú feachtais canbhásála ar fud roinnt limistéar toghcháin agus ag comhordú gníomhaíochtaí feachtais.
Ag lorg toghcháin do Sheanad Éireann dó, deir an Comhairleoir Fahy go ndíreodh sé go háirithe ar ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar Iarthar na Gaillimhe, láithreacht Fhine Gael a neartú ar fud an dáilcheantair, forbairt réigiúnach a chur chun cinn, agus seasamh ar son na Gaeilge.
“Mar chainteoir dúchais Gaeilge a dhéanann ionadaíocht ar an réigiún Gaeltachta is mó sa tír, creidim gur féidir liom guth láidir a thabhairt dár bpobail agus cabhrú le Fine Gael a thiomantas don Ghaeilge agus do fhorbairt na Gaeltachta a neartú tuilleadh,” a dúirt sé.
Má thoghtar é, tá sé i gceist ag an gComhairleoir Fahy oifig bhuan toghcheantair Fhine Gael a bhunú i gCathair na Gaillimhe agus clinicí toghcheantair rialta a reáchtáil ar fud Chathair na Gaillimhe, Eanach Dhúin, An Caisleán Gearr, Turlach Mór, Baile Chláir, Órán Mór agus i gceantair Ghaeltachta Chonamara, ag obair go dlúth le comhairleoirí áitiúla, airí agus comhghleacaithe san Oireachtas.
Freastalaíonn an Comhairleoir Fahy freisin ar Bhord Bainistíochta Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Pádraig agus bhí sé ina bhall de Bhord Bainistíochta Scoil Iognáid roimhe seo. Creideann sé go bhfuil a thiomantas fadtéarmach do chultúr na hÉireann, don oideachas agus do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge ina bhuntáiste ar leith dó mar iarrthóir don Phainéal Cultúrtha agus Oideachais.
Chríochnaigh an Comhairleoir Fahy trína thiomantas don tseirbhís phoiblí a dhearbhú arís, ag rá, má thoghtar é, go n-oibreoidh sé chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, tacú le hathbheochan na Gaeltachta, agus ionadaíocht a dhéanamh ar leasanna Iarthar na Gaillimhe le hionracas agus díograis.
Críoch
Teagmháil leis na Meáin
An Comhairleoir Frank Fahy
Fón: 087 2345852
Ríomhphost: frankfahy@live.ie
Facebook: facebook.com/frank.fahy.589
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Cllr.Frank Fahy 