By-Election: Explained as if you were in the pub

From candidates, to why the election is taking place - we’ve got you covered

Here is everything you need to know: 

When is the by-election?

 The by-election takes place Friday, May 22.

Those in the constituencies of Dublin Central and Galway West can vote at their local voting centre from 7am until 10pm.

Why is the by-election happening?

Simply, a by-election takes place to fill seats left vacant in the Dáil seat between general elections.

In this case, a seat is vacant in the Galway West constituency due to Catherine Connolly being elected as President and resigning her Dáil seat for the Áras.

For Dublin Central, Paschal Donohue resigned as Minister for Finance and vacated his Dáil seat to take up a position at the World Bank at the end of last year.

How does the by-election work and why is it important?

Voting in the by-election works the same as a General Election whereby there will be a number of candidates on the ballot paper and voters start with '1' for their first preferred candidate, then '2' for their second choice and so on.

As the votes are counted, the quota is calculated and after the first count takes place, if no candidate reaches the quota the candidate with the lowest number of votes will be excluded and their next preferences will be distributed.

This process continues until one candidate reaches the quota or there are just two candidates remaining.

A by-election can sometimes arise from broader political developments beyond the constituency where it is held.

For example, Fianna Fáil suffered double by-election defeats in 1979, which added to internal party pressures during the leadership crisis that ultimately led to the departure of then Taoiseach Jack Lynch.

Additionally, by-election victors will sometimes go on to hold high office. Former taoisigh Seán Lemass, Enda Kenny and Brian Cowen all entered the Dáil via by-elections.

Why is this happening now?

A by-election must take place within six months of a TF dying, resigning or retiring.

Due to the next General Election not being planned until the end of the Dáil term (2029), these by-elections are now taking place in Dublin Central and Galway West.

How can I vote in the by-elections?

The by-election is open to residents of the two constituencies who are registered to vote, an Irish or British citizen and aged 18 or over on polling day.

Unfortunately, if you have not already registered to vote, you will not be able to have your say in the by-election as registration closed on Tuesday 5 May.

To view your voting status, go to the Check the Register website.

Who are the candidates?

Galway West

There are 17 candidates vying for the vacant Dáil seat.

The victor will fill the fifth constituency seat, left vacant by President Catherine Connolly, and join current sitting TDs Mairéad Farrell (Sinn Féin), John Connolly (Fianna Fáil), Hildegarde Naughton (Fine Gael), and Noel Grealish (Independent).

Dublin Central

There are 14 candidates running.

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

The victor will fill the fourth constituency seat, left vacant by former minister Paschal Donohue, and join current sitting TDs Mary Lou McDonald (Sinn Féin), Gary Gannon (Social Democrats), and Marie Sherlock (Labour).

This race pulls particular interest as Independent candidate Gerard Hutch (also known as Gerry ‘The Monk’) came within touching distance of a seat during the 2024 General Election. The candidate has been described by the Special Criminal Court as the head of the Hutch Organised Crime Group.

Despite being acquitted for murder charges in 2023, some have said his candidacy normalises criminal notoriety in politics.

Other controversies surrounding the by-elections include Dublin Central Social Democrats candidate Daniel Ennis who faced online scrutiny when the company he had previously been secretary of a business for was linked to the seizure of illegal cigarettes, despite this occurring after his tenure.

While canvassing for Ray McAdam in a Dublin housing estate, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was filmed making remarks about immigration and African migrants to a member of the public. Such comments were widely condemned by political opponents and anti-racism groups, although Ahern denied all racist connotations, maintaining that his comments had been taken out of context. 

There seems to be less controversy in Galway West. Perhaps of notability is Sinn Féin candidate Mark Lohan who drew attention when he publicly contradicted party leader Mary Lou McDonald regarding his ability to speak the Irish language. 

On a separate note, Labour criticised RTÉ over the exclusion of their candidate, Helen Ogbu, from a televised debate despite claiming the broadcaster’s selection criteria is unfair to smaller parties.

When will we know the results?                                 

Counting begins at 9am on Saturday 23 May, with results expected later that evening.

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