Half of twelve candidates expected to run in the Galway West by-election have agreed an historic voting pact.
Six candidates have formalised a ‘Vote Left, Transfer Left’ arrangement in an attempt to elect a progressive candidate to hold the seat vacated by Catherine Connolly after her election to the presidency in November.
Intense negotiations to form a pact began in February. A formal announcement is expected tomorrow, Friday, March 27, with candidates from five political parties, and one independent, scheduled to meet in Galway city to sign a pledge. This will direct their supporters to transfer preferences to each other, when the constituency’s first by-election in 50 years is held in May.
The six are Helen Ogbu (Labour ), Sheila Garitty (Independent ), Mark Lohan (Sinn Féin ), Niall Murphy (Green Party ), Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich (Social Democrats ), and Denman Rooke (People Before Profit ).
Participants have endorsed a shared electoral principle, promising to campaign with integrity, prioritise community, respect differences and encourage their voters to “Vote Left, Transfer Left with the aim of building a stronger left movement,” according to a shared statement.
Tonn na Clé, the grassroots network that emerged from Connolly’s successful presidential campaign, is the driving force behind this multi-member agreement, not seen in the republic since the Michael Collins-de Valera pact of 1922, designed to keep Labour and other parties out of the Dáil.
This modern day pact, if successful, may have the numbers to deny Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Independent Ireland, Aontú and other non-party candidates vital transfers, in an election expected to be won or lost on the slimmest margin. Independent county councillor Thomas Welby, and independent city councillor, Mayor Mike Cubbard, are so far not part of the pact.
Tonn na Clé has liaised with candidates directly, rather than at a political party level, leaving the by-election hopefuls to negotiate internally with their own organisations.
Councillor Ogbu, who represents the east ward in Galway city, is the only left-wing candidate so far to print ‘vote left’ exhortations on her election literature. Other candidates are expected to to follow. Senior members of Sinn Féin and People Before Profit have expressed some reservations on leaflets intimating explicit alliance, indicating this pact has its own internal politics.
Tonn na Clé is itself considering registration with the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO ). Registration means it may accept donations, lobby politicians, and produce election literature or erect posters, but this route has not yet been agreed by its 340, mostly Galway-based membership, and it declined to comment on this ambition.
Michelle Ní Chléirigh, founder of Tonn na Clé, said the voting agreement in Galway signals “a maturing of grassroots political cooperation grounded in shared values, and a growing recognition that collective action is essential to addressing complex social and environmental challenges.” She is hopeful this approach may spread from Galway to other constituencies, before the next general election.
“Since Catherine Connolly’s campaign, a powerful, new ‘Left Wave’ has been unfolding from… Galway, rooted in social inclusion, social justice and climate action. Many of us feel a deep sense of hope, and new potential from the new movement, that sees grassroots activists, ordinary citizens and public representatives mobilised together… discovering new ways of practising politics, grounded in dignity, solidarity and social transformation.”
Assuming the percentage of first preference voting at the May by-election follows the pattern of the 2024 general election in Galway West, the six pact members could command 33 per cent of voters’ Number 1s. This is still behind the 47 per cent first preference votes won by government-supporting candidates, with another 20 per cent shared by Noel Thomas (II ), Mike Cubbard (Ind ), Aontú and far-right micro parties. The winning candidate will of course need 50 per cent, after transfers.
Sinn Féin, Labour and Fine Gael currently appear to be targeting Galway West more than the Dublin Central by-election, to be held on the same day as Galway’s, necessitated by the resignation of Pascal Donohoe. Fianna Fáil will select its Galway West candidate on Sunday.
