The shape of the Galway West by-election is emerging, with all major parties identifying possible candidates, except Fianna Fáil.
A by-election must be held in Galway by May 11, with taoiseach Micheál Martin the ultimate decision maker on a date. One Galway West seat is empty after Catherine Connolly was elected president.
Friday, May 1, is the likeliest date for closing Galway’s schools to be used as polling stations, but if Fianna Fáil decides to hold its yet-to-be-confirmed 2026 Ard Fheis over that bank holiday weekend, then all bets are off.
“I have been at meetings across Galway with party members last month, and they are all anxious to get a date for a selection convention,” says Fianna Fáil city councillor Mike Crowe, who is not running for the Dáil.
So far, the declared by-election candidates are Councillor Noel Thomas (II ), Niall Murphy (GP ), Sheila Garrity (Ind ), Councillor Thomas Welby (Ind ), Councillor Helen Ogbu (Lab ), Orla Nugent (Au ), and Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich (SD ).
Fine Gael will select its candidate – likely Senator Seán Kyne or Councillor Eddie Hoare – on Sunday, February 22.
Sinn Féin says it will hold a Galway West selection convention “in late February.” At least four named members are due to contest it.
Solidarity-People Before Profit is expected to run a candidate, and Mayor Mike Cubbard (Ind ) is also likely to run.
Bookies have Noel Thomas and Sheila Garrity as so-far declared favourites, but the biggest mover is Helen Ogbu: cut by one bookmaker from 200-1 to 25-1.
By-elections use the Instant-Runoff Voting (IRV ) procedure, a variant of the Single Transferable Vote (STV ) used in multi-seat general elections.
