Polling day for Dublin Central and Galway West by-elections set for May 22nd

Eva Osborne

Following the moving of the writ in the Dáil, the polling day for the Dublin Central and Galway West by-elections has been set for Friday, May 22nd.

The Dublin Central by-election was triggered after former Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, in a shock move, stood down to become second in command at the World Bank in Washington DC late last year.

The Galway West by-election was triggered by the election of Catherine Connolly as President, who vacated her Dáil seat in October.

The electorate for Dublin Central is over 57,000. The electorate for Galway West is over 103,000. The latest time for receiving nominations is 12pm on Friday, May 1st.

In terms of known candidates, Fianna Fáil have selected 25-year-old Councillor Cillian Keane to contest the upcoming Galway West by-election.

Independents Mike Cubbard, Sheila Garrity, and Thomas Welby will be running, as well AJ Cahill for The Irish People and Seán Kyne for Fine Gael.

Mark Lohan is Sinn Féin's candidate, Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich will contest for the Social Democrats, Niall Murphy for the Green Party, Denman Rooke for People Before Profit, Orla Nugent for Aontú, Helen Ogbu for the Labour Party, and Noel Thomas for Independent Ireland.

In Dublin Central, Fianna Fáil nominated Councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, John Stephens, as its candidate.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam was selected as the Fine Gael candidate for the constituency.

Sinn Féin Councillor Janice Boylan is among those who have been declared to run as has Independent councillor Malachy Steenson, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin for People Before Profit, Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis, Green Party Councillor Janet Horner, Aontú’s Ian Smyth and Ruth O’Dea for Labour.

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has also declared that he will be running.