Anyone who thought that the Labour Party winning of a Dáil seat in Galway East was a bit of a flash in the pan, had better think again – because this week the party’s new standard-bearer in the constituency Deputy Colm Keaveney announced the start of a recruitment drive which could make Labour a very real danger for years to come in an where they had never held a Dáil seat before.
 

For, Keaveney keenly announced that Labour have recruited Eamon Walsh, the Independent who put up such a gallant fight in Galway West in the General Election, and who must be a real contender in the local elections to come in 2014.

Walsh, who pulled 1,400 first preferences in Galway West and lasted until a fourth count where he had 1,600 votes is the kind of capture that any party would fancy with his own strong vote base and a widespread appeal. He also fought a very professional campaign and we can now look out for his name up around areas like Headford, where Labour has not previously had a strong machine.

For Colm Keaveney, the new recruit appears to be only the start of a series of attempts to improve the Labour machine ... for there are rumours of impending other new recruits to be announced in the coming weeks in areas such as Ballinasloe … watch this space.

Colm Keaveney with his trade union background is very much into organisation and the recruitment drive is intended to ensure that this is not a once-off Labour win which then goes the predictable way when it comes to a General Election. This week shows that Keaveney is already preparing for that election and for the tough days when unpopular measures have to be defended and the strength of a party is then measured in its membership on the ground throughout the constituency.

Keaveney brought off the record win with extraordinary transfers from his running mate Lorraine Higgins, who gave him 2,400 votes at a crucial stage in the count, but he had also done his work as far south as Loughrea and Portumna, indeed I remember one night during the weeks before the election was called, when I rang Keaveney to discover that he was canvassing in the pouring rain in Portumna.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.