Labour finds a volunteer to fly the flag in Tuam

THE search to find a Labour stalwart brave or foolish enough to raise the red flag in Tuam has borne fruit, as Eugene Deering, a party organiser based in Ballyforan, has answered the call and agreed to cross the Suck to make a stand in his mother’s home town of Tuam in the Council elections on May 23.

That’s assuming party leader Eamon Gilmore endorses his decision, which, given the recent fractious history of Labour in Tuam, he might be reluctant to do.

Eugene told The Herald on Tuesday that he was ready to start knocking on doors but needs the nod from HQ. There hasn’t exactly been a rush for the nomination, so unless Gilmore decides to wash his hands of turbulent Tuam, he should be out of the traps by the weekend. Labour already has candidates in the other four Galway constituencies.