Galway West voters will head to the polls later this month in a tightly contested by-election shaped by housing pressures, immigration debates and fallout from recent fuel protests.
The May 22nd contest was triggered after former Independent TD Catherine Connolly was elected President, vacating her Dáil seat. The by-election will run alongside the high-profile contest in Dublin Central, where several prominent candidates are also seeking election.
A wide field candidates has emerged in Galway West, with issues such as housing, transport, healthcare, immigration, neutrality, cost of living and planning dominating the campaign. The election is also unfolding in the aftermath of April’s fuel protests, which caused major disruption and intensified political debate around energy costs and rural Ireland.
Former Fine Gael TD Seán Kyne is attempting to regain the seat he lost in 2020 after previously serving in the Dáil between 2011 and 2020.
Kyne, now a Senator, has focused his campaign on housing, healthcare and transport infrastructure, while presenting himself as an experienced candidate with government connections.
“We must ensure Galway West has a strong, experienced, and effective voice in the Dáil,” Kyne said.
“Someone who will be taken seriously by Government and influence decisions. That’s why I am asking for your No.1 vote on May 22nd.”
Independent Ireland candidate Noel Thomas has served as a councillor in the Connemara South electoral area for the past decade.
Thomas previously left Fianna Fáil before later joining Independent Ireland, citing immigration concerns and dissatisfaction with the political establishment.
“I strongly believe that if a politician fails to listen to and honestly represent their constituents then it is time for them to stand down,” Thomas said when joining the party.
The councillor has also criticised the planning system and argued that rural communities are being undermined.
“When you hear heartbreaking stories about young families considering having to leave the country because they can’t get planning permission on family land, you know there is something very wrong,” he said.
“The planning system is not fit for purpose and is designed to prevent people from being allowed to live and work in their communities.”
Thomas was also a supporter of the recent fuel protest movement, which placed pressure on the Government during April.
Labour candidate Helen Ogbu has centred much of her campaign on housing, childcare and social services.
Ogbu has also advocated for the return of catering services on Irish Rail trains and has called for additional funding supports for domestic violence victims.
“Survivors need access to safe accommodation, counselling, legal support, and financial independence,” Ogbu said.
“Safety needs funding and that’s why Labour are calling for a €3 million Safe Fund.”
The councillor has also spoken extensively about the State’s care system for children, calling for Tusla to be investigated.
“This has been happening for too long. Right now, children are being placed in unregulated settings – hotels, makeshift accommodation – with no proper oversight. That is not care.”
“…We need a full investigation into Tusla, and we need it now.”
Ogbu has referenced her own experience of living in direct provision after first arriving in Galway.
“A vision of hope, not hate,” she said, describing the message she hoped voters would send to Government.
Independent candidate Sheila Garrity previously worked as Catherine Connolly’s campaign manager during the presidential election.
The Canadian-born lecturer and childhood studies academic has campaigned on housing, healthcare, early education, Irish neutrality and the Irish language.
Garrity also addressed immigration and integration issues during her campaign launch.
“Migration is the story of the Irish people, but it’s not uniquely Irish,” Garrity said.
“Migration is the story of the human race.
“I’m a migrant. I came to Galway 25 years ago with Jim and our five children, and we made this place our home.”
She also criticised political rhetoric she said could deepen divisions during the campaign.
“The language of division will have no place in this political campaign,” Garrity said.
Social Democrats candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich is a native Irish speaker from the Gaeltacht and has previously worked in student politics and mental health advocacy.
Her campaign has focused on housing, neutrality, inclusion and immigration policy.
“If elected, I will fight continuously for a real republic of equals where inclusion, diversity and social justice are not just valued, but reflected in government policy,” Nic Fhionnlaoich said.
She also strongly criticised tougher immigration proposals and detention policies.
“Cruelty and efficiency are not the same thing,” she said.
“Detaining children, denying people the right to legal representation, and delaying the right to family reunification don’t make a more efficient International Protection system, just a more cruel one.”
“The ‘tough on immigration’ grandstanding from this government doesn’t deliver for ordinary people, it just creates more racism, division, and far right abuse in our communities.”
Green Party candidate Niall Murphy has campaigned heavily on transport, climate policy and renewable energy.
Murphy, a software engineer and former Galway City councillor, has argued for reducing car usage and introducing major public transport projects.
“I want to reduce the car dependency of Galway,” Murphy said.
“Electric cars are an expensive, short term solution to pollution. Galway needs to reduce cars, not replace them, in order to lower pollution and to reclaim the time lost to gridlock.”
Murphy has also promoted diversity and inclusion messaging during the campaign.
“Make sure that Galway welcomes all races, ages, cultures, sexual orientations and beliefs,” he said.
In social media posts, Murphy has also promoted pro-Palestinian messaging and criticised corporate donations in politics.
“Climate change is about power,” he said in another campaign statement.
“The past few weeks show us how vital it is to diversify our energy sources.”
Aontú candidate Orla Nugent has focused heavily on housing, rural development and cost-of-living issues.
The primary school teacher, originally from Fermanagh and now living in Galway city, said the by-election offered voters an opportunity to send a message to Government.
“The upcoming by-election presents a unique opportunity for the voters of Galway city and Connemara to tell the government that enough is enough,” Nugent said.
She has criticised VAT rates and planning regulations affecting housing construction.
“We have a government cashing in on the housing crisis and taking in billions on VAT on building materials each year, which is driving up the cost of construction,” she said.
“We have bizarre planning rules and regulations which cripple anyone trying to build.”
Nugent has also raised concerns about rural coastal communities and seaweed harvesting.
“We need to fight to ensure rural communities are not left behind, in the face of the threat of a corporate takeover of seaweed affecting Galway,” she said.
Sinn Féin candidate Mark Lohan is seeking to win a second seat in the constituency for the party.
The former councillor has campaigned against Government policy on housing and living costs.
“By electing a Sinn Féin TD you will be putting maximum pressure on the government to take real action to cut the cost of living for you and your family,” Lohan said.
During his selection, he also described the election as an opportunity to drive “a new progressive agenda for Galway”.
People Before Profit candidate Denman Rooke has campaigned on rent controls, eviction bans and the creation of a State-owned construction company.
The party has also promoted policies including price controls on food and energy, support for Palestine and the safeguarding of Irish neutrality.
In a candidate statement, the party described Rooke as “a socialist activist” involved in campaigns relating to “anti-racism, climate action, cost of living, and housing”.
“This by-election is an opportunity for the Left to work together and win,” the statement said.
“We are calling for ‘vote Left, transfer Left’ and for a real alternative to the century-long dominance of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.”
Independent Galway Mayor Mike Cubbard is contesting the seat on what he describes as a “Galway First” platform.
Cubbard was first elected to Galway City Council in 2014 and has retained his seat in two subsequent local elections.
He says his campaign is focused on ensuring national policies benefit Galway directly.
Fianna Fáil candidate Cillian Keane is the youngest candidate in the race at 25 years old.
The councillor, elected to Galway County Council in 2024, has campaigned on healthcare, supports for businesses, and mental health services.
“The message we received from voters was clear,” Keane said.
“People want a young, energetic and fresh voice to represent them in Dáil Éireann.”
Independent candidate Michael Ryan has campaigned on immigration, housing and the cost of living.
Ryan has argued that EU membership has weakened the Irish Constitution and negatively affected working-class communities in particular.
He has also called for “comprehensive immigration reform”.
Ryan criticised rival candidates who were absent during the Galway fuel protests earlier this year.
“I stood with the people, and I showed you the truth,” he told followers on social media.
“I always show you the truth.”
This is his first attempt at seeking political office.
The Irish People candidate AJ Cahill is campaigning on what he calls a “nationalist alternative”.
Cahill has focused on immigration policy and housing allocation during the campaign.
“I am standing as the sole candidate committed to nationalist unity,” Cahill said.
“I remain the only choice for those who believe in prioritising housing for the Irish and implementing a firm policy of remigration.”
Independent candidate Thomas Welby has highlighted his more than two decades on Galway County Council.
Welby’s campaign has focused on housing, services and traffic issues.
He previously criticised the handling of proposals for a direct provision centre in Oughterard in 2019.
“Consultation is critical,” Welby told RTÉ News at the time.
Independent candidate John O’Leary is contesting both the Galway West and Dublin Central by-elections after previously running in multiple constituencies during recent general elections.
Independent candidate Patrick Feeney has previously contested local, general and presidential elections without success.
Independent candidate Néill Bairéad, a teacher from Mionlach, is also contesting the seat.
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A new IPSOS B&A poll conducted for TG4 and The Irish Times showed Seán Kyne leading on 17% of first-preference support so far, narrowly ahead of Noel Thomas on 16%.
Helen Ogbu was polling on 12%, while Fianna Fáil’s Cillian Keane, Sinn Féin’s Mark Lohan and Independent Sheila Garrity were on 8%, 7% and 3% respectively.