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Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories L-R: Seán Kyne, Éamon Ó Cuív, and Eddie Hoare. by-election time Runners and riders: Connolly's on her way to the Áras - so who might fill her Dáil seat? With one election out of the way, eyes are turning to Catherine Connolly’s hot seat in Galway West. 6.56pm, 26 Oct 2025 Share options AFTER CATHERINE CONNOLLY’S win in the presidential election, attention has quickly turned to who may fill her Dáil seat in Galway West once she moves to the Áras. A by-election must take place within six months of a seat being vacated. Connolly will be inaugurated on 11 November, meaning a by-election must take place by May. After the successful joining together of left parties to back Connolly, it remains to be seen whether they’ll continue their unofficial coalition in some manner in order to secure another left candidate in Connolly’s place. Who could be in the running? With the last general election less than a year behind us, we have a rough idea of where voters’ heads are at in Galway West. Last year saw the election of Sinn Féin’s Mairead Farrell, Catherine Connolly, Fianna Fáil’s John Connolly, Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton, and Independent Noel Grealish. Farrell and Catherine Connolly were the first elected on the eleventh count. Farrell had received the largest number of first preferences. John Connolly and Naughton were elected on count 14, and Grealish clinched the fifth and final seat in count 16. Independent Ireland’s Noel Thomas, currently a sitting councillor and formerly a member of Fianna Fáil, came sixth on the first count and was the final candidate to be eliminated. Results from the first count in Catherine Connolly's Galway West constituency in last year's general election.The Journal The Journal Seventeen candidates ran in the constituency. Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael ran two candidates each, and each had one elected. The Social Democrats ran Councillor Eibhlín Seoighthe, who finished behind Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil’s second candidates and Independent councillor Mike Cubbard, who currently serves as Galway city’s Lord Mayor. Given Connolly’s position as a left TD, it may appear that left parties such as the Social Democrats would push for Seoighthe or another candidate to contest the by-election. Sinn Féin’s leader Mary Lou McDonald also pointed out that their candidate, frontbench TD Mairead Farrell, topped the poll. Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 today, McDonald said: “Of course we will go in and contest in that way. I hope, in that contest as with others, we [the left] will find a way to transfer to and from each other, that we can still – on areas where we have common cause and common platforms – we can put that forward in a very, very constructive way.” Advertisement She said Sinn Féin has a “very strong mandate” and the party will contest the seat to ensure it doesn’t “fall to the government”. Sinn Féin is the second largest party in Dáil Éireann on 39 seats – behind Fianna Faíl and only one seat ahead of Fine Gael. So who else might run for the Galway seat? Runners and riders Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne contested the general election last year. He is a senator on the Cultural and Educational panel at present but was previously a TD for the party from 2011 to 2020. He lost his seat in 2020 and was then appointed to the Seanad by the Taoiseach. Kyne came in seventh on the first count and was less than 700 votes behind his running mate Naughton, who’s now a Minister of State. Fine Gael councillor and former Lord Mayor of Galway City Eddie Hoare’s name has also cropped up as a potential option for the party. As for Fianna Fáil, former TD and minister Éamon Ó Cuív was described by the Irish Examiner as being “coy” about whether he would be interested in contesting the by-election. Although retired from politics, the 75-year-old added: “In life, if you’re going somewhere, never make a decision on what to do at the next crossroads until you get there.” Take that as you will. Elsewhere, Aontú may want to capitalise on its work in aiding Maria Steen’s efforts to make it onto the ballot. The party ran lecturer Pádraig Lenihan last year in Galway West, but he was eliminated on the fifth count. He received 1,233 first preference votes. Aontú has no Galway representative currently. There is also, of course, businessman Declan Ganley, one of the figures behind the campaign calling on people to spoil their votes this weekend. Ganley hasn’t run for election since his failed European bid in 2009 as a candidate for his now defunct Eurosceptic political party Libertas – but he was spotted at Leinster House earlier this year, apparently sounding out support for a potential Áras bid. Ganley is based in Galway, with Abbeyknockmoy being named previously as his place of residence. This evening he replied to a post on X querying whether he may be interested in giving it a go, saying: “That’s Galway West, I am Galway East. I also have a job, getting the Outernet up and on.” Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. 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Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion By-election by-election time Catherine Connolly galway west up for grabs News in 60 seconds Witness appeal Gardaí appeal for information on serious attack in Dublin earlier this week Here's What Happened Today: Sunday 17 mins ago spending and saving Money Diaries: A PR manager on €44K living in Co Cork 32 mins ago Man (20s) in serious condition after being found unresponsive in Kildare 44 mins ago search operation Coast Guard recovers body from shoreline in north Clare Wexford grandmother fills 1,000 shoebox gifts for charity drive GAA Results Dingle end 77-year wait for Kerry SFC title as Ballyhale Shamrocks win Kilkenny SHC As it happened Catherine Connolly will be the 10th President of Ireland INVALID VOTES Here’s how many people in your constituency spoiled their vote new woman in the áras Connolly pledges to 'shape a new republic' as she's elected president with largest vote ever current husband Who is Brian McEnery, the man set to be Ireland's next 'first husband'? more from us Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2025 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. 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