The new Mayor says his focus over the next year will be on solving the city's traffic problems, preparing for the Volvo Ocean Race, addressing the housing crisis and cleaning up the city's canals and waterways. The latter is one of his "pet projects" and he says he would love to make Galway more like Venice by illuminating and taking advantage of the city's natural waterways.

While he admits to listening to the concerns of his constituents seven days a week, and says that being a public representative is "more of a vocation than a job", Conneely is also a huge sports fan. A close follower of both GAA and soccer, he travels to all of Galway United's home games and urges people to row behind the team during this difficult time.

Despite speculation about how Conneely's temperament may impact on council meetings during his term as Mayor, he says he is looking forward to the challenge and was heartened by the large amount of support he has received since he received the chain of office.

"A huge crowd came down to City Hall to see me being elected as Mayor and there have been good luck cards and mass bouquets coming through the door every day since. One 71-year-old woman rang me a while back when she saw a negative article about me in the paper, saying that she hoped I got the position and she was going to say a prayer at the novena for me. That same woman turned up to see me get elected as Mayor and even came up to Kelehan's in Bushypark for the celebrations! They are the people that I am representing and I am well up for the challenge!"

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