2026 Galway West by-election
May 2026
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Location of Galway West within Ireland | |||
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A by-election is due to be held in the Dáil constituency of Galway West in Ireland in 2026, to fill the vacancy left by the election of Catherine Connolly as president of Ireland.[1][2] Under Article 12.6.2° of the Constitution of Ireland, a member of either House of the Oireachtas who is elected as president is deemed to have vacated that seat. Connolly was declared elected as president on 25 October 2025. According to the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, the writ for the by-election must be issued within six months of the vacancy.[3] In February 2026, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the by-election would be held in May, together with the 2026 Dublin Central by-election.[4]
Constituency profile
The Dáil constituency of Galway West elects five TDs. It spans the western half of County Galway, taking in Galway city, the Galway Gaeltacht, Oranmore, Oughterard and Clifden.[5] At the 2024 general election, Galway West elected one Sinn Féin, one Fianna Fáil, one Fine Gael and two independent TDs (Catherine Connolly and Noel Grealish).[6][7]
Candidates
Candidate selection
| Party | Candidate | FPv% | Count | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||
| Independent | Sheila Garrity | |||
| Fine Gael | Seán Kyne | |||
| Sinn Féin | Mark Lohan | |||
| Green | Niall Murphy | |||
| Social Democrats | Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich | |||
| Aontú | Orla Nugent | |||
| Labour | Helen Ogbu | |||
| PBP–Solidarity | Denman Rooke | |||
| Independent Ireland | Noel Thomas | |||
| Independent | Thomas Welby | |||
On 28 October 2025, Independent Ireland stated that councillor Noel Thomas, formerly of Fianna Fáil, was selected as their candidate for the by-election.[8] The Green Party selected former councillor Niall Murphy as their candidate on 6 December 2025.[9][10]
Independent candidates who indicated an intention to stand during January 2026 included independent councillor Thomas Welby, formerly of the Progressive Democrats[11] and the former campaign manager for Catherine Connolly, Sheila Garrity.[12] During a party conference in November 2025, the Labour Party indicated that it would contest the election,[13] and local councillor Helen Ogbu was selected as the party's candidate in January 2026.[14][15]
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said that her party would also stand its own candidate and,[16] in February 2026, Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich (a parliamentary assistant to TD Sinéad Gibney) was selected as its candidate.[17] Aontú selected Orla Nugent as their candidate in February 2026.[18]
Senator Seán Kyne was selected as the Fine Gael candidate on 22 February 2026.[19] On 24 February 2026 People Before Profit announced Denman Rooke as their candidate.[20]
Despite speculation about a joint left ticket, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said her party would stand its own candidate, but she reportedly stated that she would like to see a transfer pact between left-wing candidates.[21] On 19 March 2026 the party selected former City Councillor and Galway West branch chairperson Mark Lohan as its candidate.[22]
A new political group, An Tonn Clé (The Left Wave), formed in the wake of the election of Catherine Connolly as president of Ireland, is promoting a "vote left, transfer left" pact to build on the success of the left alliance during the presidential campaign. It has said it will support six candidates, Ogbu, Rooke, Lohan, Nic Fhionnlaoich, Murphy and Garrity, in the transfer pact.[23]
Potential candidates
Former Fianna Fáil TD for the constituency Éamon Ó Cuív was speculated as a candidate for the party but ruled himself out in December 2025.[24][25] Fianna Fáil reportedly stated that the party would select a candidate at a convention in late March 2026.[26]
Mike Cubbard, an independent councillor and Mayor of Galway since June 2025, said that he was considering contesting the by-election.[27]
Debates
It was reported in March that there would be no Irish language candidate debates on TG4 or Raidió na Gaeltachta as only three candidates - Kyne, Nugent and Nic Fhionnlaoich - are "sufficiently fluent" in Irish.[28]
References
- ^ Lenihan, Barry (26 October 2025). "Connolly win will prompt fascinating Galway by-election". RTÉ News. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ Burne, Louise (19 October 2025). "Éamon Ó Cuív coy on Dáil run in Galway West if Catherine Connolly wins race for the Áras". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 26 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
- ^ Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, s. 2 (No. 14 of 2011, s. 2). Enacted on 25 July 2011. Act of the Oireachtas. Retrieved from Irish Statute Book on 29 April 2021.
- ^ McGrath, Pat (5 February 2026). "Galway and Dublin by-elections in May - Taoiseach" – via www.rte.ie.
- ^ "Dáil Constituency Map Galway West 2024" (PDF). Government of Ireland. Tailte Éireann. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 November 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "General Election 2024 Results – Galway West". RTÉ News. December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ "General Election Results". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ Cionnaith, Fiachra Ó (28 October 2025). "Ex-FF cllr to run in by-election for Independent Ireland". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 28 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
- ^ "Niall Murphy announced as Green Party candidate for Galway West by-election". greenparty.ie. 6 December 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "Former Green city councillor to contest Galway West bye-election". GalwayBayFM. 28 October 2025.
- ^ Smith, Emma (13 January 2026). "Connemara councillor confirms bid for Catherine Connolly's vacant Galway West seat in the Dáil". Irish Independent. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ McGrath, Pat (15 January 2026). "Former Connolly campaign manager to run in Galway West by-election". RTÉ News. Archived from the original on 15 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ McGee, Harry (15 November 2025). "Galway West byelection should be next 'united left' collaboration, says Labour's Bacik". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 January 2026. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ Smith, Emma F. (21 January 2026). "Labour party to nominate Helen Ogbu for Galway West seat". Irish Independent. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ^ "Labour wheels out big guns to target Dáil for Ogbu". Galway Advertiser. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Coyne, Ellen (8 November 2025). "Sinn Féin promoting policies that 'are not left wing', says Holly Cairns". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
- ^ Smith, Emma (4 February 2026). "Social Democrats confirm candidate for Galway by-election as Fine Gael begin nomination process". Irish Independent.
- ^ "Aontú selects candidate to contest Galway West by-election". Galway Bay FM. 4 February 2026. Archived from the original on 4 February 2026. Retrieved 4 February 2026.
- ^ Hickey, Emma (22 February 2026). "Fine Gael senator selected to contest Galway West by-election". The Journal.
- ^ "Denman Rooke Selected As People Before Profit Candidate for Galway West By-Election". PBP.ie. 24 February 2026.
- ^ McQuinn, Cormac (26 October 2025). "Sinn Féin to run own candidate in byelection prompted by Catherine Connolly presidency win". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
- ^ McGrath, Pat (19 March 2026). "SF selects Mark Lohan to contest Galway West by-election". Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ Cullen, Róisín (22 March 2026). "RTE news : Left wave looking to beat Govt in Galway West by-election". rte.ie.
- ^ McGrath, Pat (28 December 2025). "Galway West set for captivating 2026 by-election battle". RTÉ News. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ McGee, Harry (26 October 2025). "Former TD Eamon Ó Cuív declines to rule out return to contest Galway West byelection". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 5 November 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
- ^ "Fianna Fáil picks date for Galway West bye-election selection convention". Galway Live powered by the Connacht Tribune. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ Hickey, Emma (28 October 2025). "Runners and riders: Connolly's on her way to the Áras - so who might fill her Dáil seat?". The Journal. Archived from the original on 27 October 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
- ^ Ó Liatháin, Concubhar (20 March 2026). "Not enough fluent Irish candidates in Galway West for debate on TG4 or RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta". The Journal. Retrieved 22 March 2026.