Official Galway West by-election voting day to be decided this week
Dáil Éireann is expected to officially mark the calendar for the upcoming by-election voting day this week.
A writ will be administered after a motion is heard in the Dáil on Wednesday, April 22. That will then decide what day Galway West will elect a new TD to the unoccupied seat.
The TD seat must be filled within six months of its vacancy and Friday May 22 is expected to be the polling date.
The vacancy was left by Catherine Connolly as she was elected Uachtarán na hÉireann in October 2025.
Each major party has chosen their nomination to contest in the running as well as others, many part of a ‘Vote Left, Transfer Left’ group to secure a progressive candidate.
At this time, the candidates are: Sinn Fein’s Mark Lohan, Independent Ireland Councillor Noel Thomas; independent Councillor Tom Welby; Green Party representative Niall Murphy; independent Sheila Garrity; Independent Mike Cubbard; Labour Councillor Helen Ogbu; Aontú’s Orla Nugent; Social Democrats candidate Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich; and Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne.
This article was amended on April 23 to include Independent candidate Mike Cubbard.