Voter registration closes Tuesday ahead of Dublin Central and Galway West byelections

Mon, 04 May, 2026 - 14:33

Eva Osborne

Tuesday is deadline day for anyone eligible to register to vote or update their details to vote in the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections.

On deadline day, An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Ireland’s independent electoral commission, is visiting schools in An Cheathrú Rua and Carna to register new voters alongside running the last day of its voter registration pop-up shop in Eyre Square in Galway city.

Chief executive of An Coimisiún Toghcháin, Art O’Leary, said: “At every election people turn up at the polling station ready to vote, only to be told that they haven’t added their name to the register or else their details are incorrect.

"Don’t be that person, act today, check your details online at CheckTheRegister.ie.

“Your vote is your voice, check the register today to make sure that your voice is heard in these important bye elections in Dublin Central and Galway West.”

In Dublin Central, 14 people will contest the byelection to fill the vacancy created when former Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe resigned to take up a position at the World Bank.

In Galway West, 17 candidates are standing to take the seat held by Catherine Connolly until her election as president.

The candidates in Dublin Central are: Ray McAdam (Fine Gael), Gerard Hutch (Independent), Daniel Ennis (Social Democrats), Malachy Steenson (Independent), Mannix Flynn (Independent), Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin (People Before Profit), Ruth O’Dea (The Labour Party), Tony Corrigan (Independent), Janet Horner (Green Party), Noel Smyth (Aontú), Janice Boylan (Sinn Féin), John O’Leary (Independent), John Stephens (Fianna Fáil), Colm Joseph Flood (Independent).

The candidates in Galway West are: Michael Ryan (Independent), Thomas Welby (Independent), Cillian Keane (Fianna Fáil), Sheila Garrity (Independent), Noel Thomas (Independent Ireland), Niall Murphy (Green Party), John O’Leary (Independent), Patrick Feeney (Independent), Denman Rooke (People Before Profit – Solidarity), Helen Ogbu (The Labour Party), Mark Lohan (Sinn Féin), Mike Cubbard (Non Party), Sean Kyne (Fine Gael), Mide Nic Fhionnlaoich (Social Democrats), AJ Cahill (The Irish People), Orla Nugent (Aontú), Neill Bairead (Independent).