Constituency: Galway West

The Irish People chose AJ Cahill to run at the general election under The National Alliance. The National Alliance is an electoral alliance consisting of three far-right political parties: the National Party, Ireland First and The Irish People.

John Connolly has been a public representative since 2019 and was re-elected to Galway City Council in the Local Elections last June. As he announced his candidacy to the Dáil, Cllr Connolly outlined among his priorities securing better healthcare services and the expansion of mental health services. He also argued that the ring road is “essential “for the city’s development.

Catherine Connolly is an independent TD who was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 2016. Deputy Connolly is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann and previously served as a member of the Committee on the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands. Prior 2016, she was a Galway City Councillor for 17 years and served as Mayor of Galway City in 2004. Originally from Shantalla, she has lived in the Claddagh since 1988. She has previously worked as a barrister and as a Clinical Psychologist with the Western Health Board in Ballinasloe, Conamara and Galway City.

Galway City Councillor Mike Cubbard has represented the people of Galway City Central since 2014. The independent councillor explained his priorities include more infrastructures, support for small businesses, housing, as well as healthcare, childcare and mental health support. Like the local election in June, Cllr Cubbard also announced he will not be using election posters in this campaign.

Mairéad Farrell is seeking re-election after being a Sinn Féin TD since the 2020 General Election. Recently, she became the first woman Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and the youngest chair in its 25-year history. She is also the party’s spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science. Ms Farrell previously served Galway City Council and is a graduate of NUI Galway in History and Economics and has a Masters Degree in Finance from Queen’s University Belfast.

From Mervue, Galway city, Patrick Feeney is the fourth independent candidate running for Galway West. Mr Feeney, who is a retired Aer Lingus worker, also contested the local elections in June 2024 and in 2019, as well as the general election in 2016, but was never elected.

Noel Grealish has served as a TD for Galway West since 2002 and is now seeking re-election. He was a TD for the Progressive Democrats, and became the leader of the party in 2009, when the party disbanded. In 2019, he faced criticism for his comments about asylum seekers, while in 2020 was one of the figures at the centre of the Oireachtas Golf Society scandal.

Seán Kyne has been a Senator for the Cultural and Educational Panel since March 2020, and he has been a known name in politics for 20 years. Senator Kyne, from Moycullen, was first elected at Galway County Council in 2004, before moving to Dáil Éireann in 2011 to represent the constituency of Galway West. Over the years, he served as Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources; served as Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment; and served as Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands.

Pádraig Lenihan and his family has lived in the Newcastle area of Galway City for over three decades. Mr Lenihan is the only Aontú candidate in Galway City. He previously sought elections to Galway City Council in June but was unsuccessful. Mr Lenihan served 14 years in the army before switching careers to become a lecturer in History at the University of Galway. Mr Lenihan also qualified as a barrister-in-law. He said he has a keen interest in defence policy and, among his priorities, Mr Lenihan mentioned housing and traffic.

Doran McMahon works in construction and, after being unsuccessful at the local elections in June, he is now seeking election to the Dáil for the first time. He is a father of three and is active in his community as a football coach for the junior men’s team. His priorities include the protection of the Gaeltacht areas, more accommodation available for tourists, as well as the development of healthcare services.

Maisie McMaster, who describes herself as a Eco-Socialist activist, will run at the general election after being unsuccessful in securing a seat at Galway City Council back in June 2024. She explained her priorities include more investment in public services, to have an Irish NHS, the development of a free education system as well as free public transport, the abolishment of the USC, to implement rent controls and to retrofit all housing in the state to a BER of B2 or above.

Hildegarde Naughton is Government Chief Whip, with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion. She previously served as Minister of State at the Department of Transport, and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Minister Hildegarde was elected as a TD in 2016, and was member of a number of Oireachtas Committees. She previously served as a member of Galway City Council in 2009 and was Mayor of the city in 2011/2012. Before her debut into politics Minister Hildegarde was a primary school teacher.

Pauline O’Reilly started her political journey as a councillor on Galway City Council. She was then elected at the Seanad in 2020 and Chair of the Green Party in 2021. She is a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action; Vice Chair of the Gender Equality Committee and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Breastfeeding; and she was a MEP candidate for Midlands North-West in June 2024. Prior to her career in politics, she was a family law solicitor in Galway. Among her priorities, she listed the development of public transport, a focus on renewables and on sustainable developments.

Helen Ogbu was first elected to Galway City Council in June 2024, becoming the first African woman to be elected to the council. The 51-years- who came to Ireland as a refugee in 2005, after fleeing threats faced by her husband, who was murdered for his political activity in their native Nigeria. Ms Ogbu has worked in community activism for 17 years, including as chair of the Galway Refugee Support Group. Earlier this year, she explained her decision to enter local politics is not for herself, but to inspire others to follow in her footsteps.

An Spidéal native Gráinne Seoige started her career at TG4 after graduating from University College Galway. She went on to present news and current affairs and entertainment programmes at TV3, RTÉ, Sky News and Virgin Media. Most recently, she presented Virgin Media’s Grá ar an Trá. Ms Seoige announced her intention to run as a TD in the Galway West constituency last August.

Eibhlín Seoighthe was elected to Galway City Council in June and is now running for a seat at the Dáil. Ms Seoighthe’s priorities include the delivery of social and affordable homes, localised healthcare services, sustainable planning as well as more support for local businesses.

Galway County Councillor Noel Thomas, who resigned from Fianna Fáil in March, will run in the general election for Independent Ireland. Cllr Thomas ran for Independent Ireland in June’s local elections and topped the poll in the Connemara South LEA. His priorities for Galway West include more investment in rural infrastructure, local enterprise, and community facilities; reforming immigration policies; developing the controversial ring road in Galway City; and offering more support for farmers.