h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, on June 11, Galway goes to the polls. Here's my prediction for the city council that will govern Galway until 2009:

Fianna Fáil, 4 seats
Michael Leahy, North East Ward. He's a councillor and former mayor, about 80 years old, too, so he'll get in. He came to my door and I gave him a grilling about the referendum. He "had to go"...
Johanna Downes, North East Ward. I met her, too. Self-assured, pompous, but she'll get a seat nonetheless.
John Connolly, West Ward. A schoolteacher in Kilannin. He is the personification of every mother's dream of a perfect son. Only 24, though, but then there are only 9 candidiates for 7 seats in West.
Martin Quinn, West Ward. Sitting councillor, need I say more?

Fine Gael, 3 seats
Fine Gael will suffer in the NE Ward, because it is running three candidiates apart from its existing councillor, Fintan Coogan, so the vote'll be split three ways. Also, no-one likes Fine Gael. They're a wishy-washy, spineless party that couldn't get themselves elected out of a paper bag. The departure of Pádraig McCormack, TD, from the Council, due to the abolition of the Dual Mandate, will cost FG a seat in the NE.
Pádraig Conneely, West Ward. He complains about everything, but people like him beacuse he has a practice of "naming and shaming". He recently exposed that it costs €1000 a week to transport the Mayor of Galway around, for example.
John Mulholland, West Ward. This well-known bookie is likely to be the recipient of the stalwart FG vote. Also a sitting councillor.
Fintan Coogan, NE Ward. The usual: an existing councillor, with a good local record.

Labour, 3 (4?) seats
Catherine Connolly decided this year to move from the somewhat gritty West Ward, where she topped the poll in 1999, to the leafier, better-off South, leaving her sister Collette, a community activist, to garner Labour votes in the West. This tactic will work, provided Green voters in the South transfer strongly to Labour, and vice-versa. This will allow Catherine Connolly to benefit from the strong left-leaning vote in the South.
Catherine Connolly, South Ward. Recently, she spoke out against CCTV on local housing estates, and so is known for displaying principles. However, she may suffer from being seen to complain too much.
Collette Connolly, West Ward. Will benefit from being her sister's sister, in a word.
Tom Costello, NE Ward. Existing councillor, admired locally for his tackling of issues such as housing.
(?) Derek Nolan, NE Ward. Young (21), and may benefit from FG's decision to run four candidates in NE, plus the vacuum left behind by Pádraig McCormack.

Progressive Democrats, 3 seats
The PDs are the same in ireland as they are anywhere else in Ireland: a conniving, smarmy bunch of rich scumbags. However, they are popular in Galway.
Declan McDonnell, NE Ward. A sitting councillor, and is involved locally with Mervue Fotball Club, as well as being on the Board of Management of his local primary and secondary schools.
Terry Flaherty, NE Ward. The outgoing mayor, as well as being a councillor, so is assured of a seat.
Donal Lyons, South Ward. Another existing councillor, and is likely to hold his seat in the affluent South.

Green Party, 1 seat.
Niall O'Brolcháin has been active locally in Galway for many years, and was active in such campaigns as Save Eyre Square's Trees and the anti-incineration campaign. In the 2002 General Election, he was only eliminated after the 13th count, because of strong Labour transfers. If this pattern repeats, Catherine Connolly's voters' second and third preferences could ensure his election this year. I predict he will replace Val Hanley (FF) on the council, who is standing this time around in the South, rather than the NE.

So basically, I would say FF 4, down 1; FG 3, down 1; Greens 1, up 1; Labour 4, up 2; and the PDs 3, down 1.

Also, on Saturday June 12th, while every other teenager is ath the Chilli Peppers concert in Dublin, I'll be helping with the tally in Leisureland for the Labour Party.

I wish I could vote...