Previewing the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections
Byelections in Dublin Central and Galway West, set to take place on 22 May 2026, will act as a yardstick for Fine Gael’s election credentials, Sinn Féin’s momentum, and the ‘united left’ alliance.
The Dublin Central byelection was prompted after former Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe resigned in November 2025 to take up the role of Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer at the World Bank. There are 14 candidates confirmed for the byelection.
The four-seat constituency has historically elected left-leaning TDs, with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD, Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon, and Labour Party TD Marie Sherlock occupying the remaining seats.
This is a chance for Fine Gael to reverse its trend of extremely expensive and underwhelming elections. The party spent €2 million, more than double both Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil respectively, at the 2024 general election when it gained three seats. It spent over €640,000 during the 2025 presidential election compared to Catherine Connolly’s successful campaign which spent around €447,000.
Fine Gael aims to retain the seat through Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam, who worked as Donohoe’s constituency and parliamentary assistant for over 20 years.
Sinn Féin is running Janice Boylan who has sat on Dublin City Council since 2014. Boylan was McDonald’s running mate during the 2024 general election but was eliminated on the second count.
Taking a seat formerly occupied by a government minister could help recapture the momentum Sinn Féin enjoyed during the 2020 general election, but which has waned since. It could also serve to, at least in the short term, quell increasing scrutiny over McDonald’s leadership of the party.
Dublin City councillor and former league of Ireland footballer Daniel Ennis will contest the election for the Social Democrats. Convicted criminal Gerard Hutch is also set to run as an independent.
The Green Party is running Dublin City councillor Janet Horner, Fianna Fáil is running Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin John Stephens, and Dublin City councillor Mannix Flynn is running as independent as is far-right Dublin City councillor Malachy Steenson.
Labour’s Ruth O’Dea, People Before Profit’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, and Aontú’s Ian Noel Smyth are also seeking election along with independent candidates Tony Corrigan, John O’Leary, and Colm Flood.
Galway West
The Galway West byelection was promoted by the election of Connolly as Irish President in October 2025. There are 17 candidates confirmed for the byelection.
Six candidates in Galway West are part of Tonn Na Clé, which means ‘the wave of the left’. It is described as a “grassroots movement on social justice and inclusion” encouraging a revival of the ‘vote left, transfer left’ trend from the 2020 general election. The inclusion of Sinn Féin in this loose alliance marks a new shift for left-wing politics in the State.
Connolly’s election demonstrated that left-wing parties could deliver results when working in tandem and raised the potential of these parties forming a government. The overall performance of Tonn Na Clé candidates will indicate how serious supporters of left-wing parties are about progressing the ‘united left’ alliance.
Tonn Na Clé includes Connolly’s presidential campaign manager Sheila Garrity, who is running as an independent; Labour Party Galway City councillor Helen Ogbu; former Green Party councillor Niall Murphy; and former Sinn Féin councillor Mark Lohan. The group also includes the Social Democrats’ Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich and People Before Profit’s Denman Rooke.
Fine Gael is running Senator and former TD Seán Kyne who has contested the last four general elections. Fianna Fáil is running 25-year-old Galway County councillor Cillian Keane, the youngest declared candidate.
Numerous independent candidates are running including Galway County councillor Thomas Welby, Galway Mayor Mike Cubbard, and former Fianna Fáil councillor Noel Thomas.
Aontú is running Orla Nugent while The Irish People is running AJ Cahill. Other independent candidates include Michael Ryan, Patrick Feeney, Néill Bairéad, and John O’Leary who is also running in Dublin Central.
