All four Galway West TDs were in Dublin Castle on Tuesday night to celebrate their former constituency colleague’s elevation to the presidency, plus at least one county councillor who aspires to take her seat.
The presence of Councillor Noel Thomas (II ) at President Catherine Connolly’s state reception in Dublin Castle on Tuesday night was noticed by a number of observers of Galway politics.
Deputies Mairéad Farrell, John Connolly, Noel Grealish and Hildegarde Naughton, all attended the evening do after the formal inauguration.
All TDs were invited to the reception, and each Dáil member was entitled to a +1. Independent Ireland’s confirmed candidate for the upcoming Galway West byelection, Councillor Thomas, said he attended as a guest of Donegal’s Charles Ward TD, of the 100% Redress Party.
“It was a lovely experience, especially to attend what is an historic event. As the man says: you’d be proud to be asked, as there might be millions of people in the country who wanted to go,” said Thomas.
Thomas is considered a strong contender to take Catherine Connolly’s now vacant seat, in the first by election in Galway for 50 years, after nearly unseating Noel Grealish TD last November.
Commentator Ivan Yates this week said the Connemara councillor was “the favourite” to win Galway West, and confirmed to RTÉ was he not coaching the former Fianna Fail councillor who left that party after being censured for comments he made in the wake of the Ross Lake House suspected arson in 2023.
“I actually heard that. But as far as I’m concerned, it’s very, very early days at this stage. There’s always a surprise in every election, and some strong candidate might emerge,” said Thomas.
A Steen surge for Galway?
Some parties are facing issues with candidate selection issues.
The Social Democrats have lost Councillor Ebhlínn Seoighthe, and fellow city councillor Alan Curran appears luke-warm at this stage. Spiddal-based Podcaster Síle Seoige was asked by Holly Cairns to run for Europe last year, but has ruled herself out of the by-election.
“A few people mentioned [the by-election] to me, and I’m very flattered, but it’s not the right time in my life for me,” she told the Advertiser.
Aontú says its membership has doubled since failed independent presidential candidate Maria Steen drew national attention to socially conservative politics. The republican party now has almost 60 members in Galway, compared to 30 last year.
The party’s previous Galway West election candidate, Dr Pádraig Lenihan, has ruled himself out for health reasons. A selection convention is planned before Christmas.
The three largest parties of Sinn Féin, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have yet to select candidates. Labour looks to be favouring city councillor Helen Ogbu, but she has made no public comment.
Of non-party candidates, county councillor Thomas Welby, and Mayor Mike Cubbard, who represented Galway city at the presidential inauguration, are currently preparing campaigns.
Elements of Catherine Connolly’s organisation are coalescing around two new groups from which a candidate may emerge: Tonn na Clé, and new unity group Keep Left, which has been spearheaded by activists associated with People Before Profit.
