Re-drawn constituency should be called ‘Galway West/South Mayo’ – Healy Eames

Fine Gael Galway West Senator, Fidelma Healy Eames, has called for the Galway West constituency to be renamed ‘Galway West/South Mayo’ in order to provide recognition to the people of South Mayo who will be incorporated into the constituency at the next General Election. Senator Healy Eames has placed a motion on the Seanad order paper, due to be heard by Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan TD, this week.

“I can fully understand that the people of South Mayo might be disappointed that they are being disconnected from the rest of their county in terms of national political representation. This disappointment is exacerbated by the fact that the proposed name for the amalgamated constituency will not recognise the south Mayo area.

“By calling the constituency, ‘Galway West/South Mayo’, people in South Mayo would be able to become more engaged with their new constituency. I know that if I was from South Mayo, I would be disappointed that the name of my constituency did not incorporate my county name. When South Leitrim was incorporated into the Roscommon Constituency it became known as Roscommon/South Leitrim. This is only right. The same should apply for our own constituency.

“I have made a formal request to Minister Hogan to rename the new constituency to ‘Galway West/South Mayo’ to reflect and respect the new intake of population from South Mayo.

“A motion was passed at a well-attended meeting of the branch members and officers of the nine south Mayo Fine Gael branches in Kilmaine on Monday, February 18th. They have also written to Minister Hogan to request that he formally name the amalgamated constituency ‘Galway West/Mayo South’. They have my full support.”