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Galway politicians are at it, too. And while it may save them time, AI makes some of them sound cringe. Some of them read like they’re leprechauns from an American movie about ‘Oireland’ when waxing lyrical in press releases about the potholes they’ve fixed.

Use of AI is adding to the ‘disconnect’ between councillors/senators/TDs/MEPs and voters. Because when politicians use AI they don’t sound like themselves, they don’t come across as human.

What normal human uses the phrase “visitors and tourists alike”. Alike? No, we don’t like alike. And we don’t like politicians pretending to be something they’re not.

AI-generated speeches, press releases and social media posts make politicians seem the same. Boring. Polished, maybe; but boring and generic and like robots. It’s making them sound like they’re from Ballsbridge, not Ballybane, Bearna, Bohermore or Ballinasloe. There’s nothing wrong with sounding like you’re from Ballsbridge if that’s where you’re from and where you represent. But AI is creating a bunch of political bots, who churn out similar-sounding content to an increasingly disillusioned public.

Politicians’ personalities should be reflected in their statements and quotes. Okay, there’s no room for cursing. And maybe tone down dialect peculiarities particular to your locality ('Howya Luveens' mightn’t be appropriate in a statement). But politicians should realise that when they read like they speak, they come across as more genuine and are more relatable.

The Social Democrats’ only elected rep in Galway – City Councillor Alan Curran – last year called on City Hall not to use AI for promotional material and to pay artists instead. Maybe he should have a word with his colleagues to stop using AI to write their material and to pay PR professionals, or learn how to write their content so it makes them sound like themselves.

The Tribune last week reported about despicable racism directed at Labour Party Galway West bye-election candidate, Councillor Helen Ogbu.

Online versions of the report on social media, depressingly – but predictably – attracted more racist trolling.

This is the most diverse field for a Galway election ever. At least three candidates were not born in Ireland, including Ogbu (Nigeria), Independent Sheila Garrity (Canada) and People Before Profit’s Denman Rooke (born in America to a South African-born Irish father and Indian-born American mother). But all are Irish citizens, otherwise they would not be entitled to stand. You don’t have to agree with their politics to say 'no' to racism in the City of the Tribes.

There’s no truth to the rumour that Eibhlín Seoighthe has defected to Labour. The former Soc Dem turned Independent Councillor was spotted protesting about SNAs outside Education Minister and Galway West Fine Gael TD Hildegarde Naughton’s Woodquay office recently, holding a Labour Party branded poster. But she denied she’s signed up.

“No, no I have not,” Seoighthe said.

As soon as there was a whiff of an election, the non-election election posters sprang up like clockwork.

First up were the Soc Dems. Their posters advertising a housing meeting last month, remained on lamp posts around Conamara last week, keeping the brand out there for Galway West bye-election candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich. In the past fortnight, posters advertising a public meeting on traffic doubled up as pre-election, non-election bye-election advertising for Labour candidate Cllr Helen Ogbu.

Expect more non-election election posters blighting the landscape before the campaign proper starts.

Testosterone for Thomas

Independent Ireland will invade Galway later this Friday – to launch the bye-election office of its candidate Noel Thomas. The party’s army of (all male) elected reps – leader Michael Collins, TDs Michael Fitzmaurice, Ken O’Flynn, Richard O’Donoghue and MEP Ciaran Mullooly – are all due in town.

County Councillor Thomas has taken over the premises formerly occupied by Stitches haberdashery on Eyre Street. The office will be a hub for his Galway West election campaign and double as a “permanent base for Independent Ireland activity in Galway City”.

More proof that Paddy Power isn’t paying attention to the runners and riders in Galway West came last week when the bookmaker continued to offer odds (of 12/1!) online for Fine Gael City Cllr Shane Forde, despite FG choosing Senator Seán Kyne to contest the bye-election. It was also offering odds of 100/1 for Maisie McMaster, days after People Before Profit unveiled Denman Rooke as its candidate.

© Connacht Tribune