Rampant politicians across Galway will be fed and watered tonight before tomorrow’s big hunt for Dáil seats.
Showers are forecast all morning, so the going will be tough – particularly in urban areas – where rainfall often reduces voter turn out. Voters are hardier down the country.
County Galway will return at least 10 TDs to Dáil Éireann by the time counting is expected to finish – all being equal – on Sunday night.
Galway West will elect five TDs, Galway East will elect four – up from three last time round in 2020, while at least one TD in the hybrid Galway-Roscommon constituency will have a County Galway address.
Galway East has reclaimed land from Roscommon. The boundaries of Galway West have changed since last time, with a chunk of South Mayo handed back during the 2023 boundary reviews.
Traffic congestion, housing and healthcare are the main themes bubbling up from doorsteps, with many canvassers in Galway city reporting their conversations were increasingly held with doorbell cameras, rather than humans, this campaign.
The retirement of three big beasts in Connacht politics, Denis Naughton, Éamon Ó Cuív and Ciarán Cannon, means there is extra, national scrutiny on Galway’s electorate, plus the addition of a certain celebrity candidate from an Spidéal.
Although only adult Irish citizens and British subjects may vote in a general election, Galway’s new TDs will represent almost 300,000 residents across 63,000 families, after votes are cast tomorrow in almost 300 polling stations.
Nationally, only 63 per cent of voters bothered to cast their ballot in 2020, the lowest percentage since 1927. In Galway West and East, the turnout was below the national average: 60 per cent and 62 per cent respectively.
Use your vote. We can do better. Giddy up.
