Extra Dáil seat likely for Galway East constituency
The Galway East constituency looks set to be restored to a four-seater in time for the 2025 General Election under a consultative process currently taking place.
Figures from the last Census suggest Galway is entitled to another seat – and the odds are that will be delivered in the east of the county.
But the redraw could also mean that voters in areas like Claregalway, parts of Oranmore and Headford would now move to Galway East.
At the moment the three Galway East seats are held by poll-topper Sean Canney (Ind), Minister Anne Rabbitte (FF) and Ciaran Cannon (FG) – but with or without a redraw Sinn Fein’s Louis O’Hara would have been in the mix after he was the ‘last man standing’ in 2020 with more than 7,000 first preferences.
The creation of a fourth seat in the constituency, as is now extremely likely, will clearly buoy up his chances of making it to Dáil Eireann.
Veteran councillor and astute political analyst Cllr Jimmy McClearn of Fine Gael told the Connacht Tribune that he did not see the two main parties making any gains in the constituency even if it was restored to a four-seater.
“We may be selecting candidates in the hope of gaining an additional seat but given the figures, the polls and the reality of the situation, I think we will be happy to hold our own,” Cllr McClearn added.
Fine Gael will select sitting TD Ciaran Cannon and while the party will have to run a candidate in North Galway, this is likely to be Cllr Pete Roche from Abbeyknockmoy who polled more than 6,000 first preferences in 2020 but didn’t make much ground after that.
Fianna Fail will have Minister Rabbitte but the expected addition of young Cllr Albert Dolan in Monivea is set to create a lively internal contest.
Tuam’s Donagh Killilea, who polled almost 5,000 first preferences for the party last time out, will be determined to get on the ticket as he too has designs on a seat.
While most party analysts believe that Deputy Canney is still destined to be a poll-topper, they concede that Sinn Fein is destined to make a gain as few believe that the other parties have any chance of making a gain – given their performance in the polls.
Independents such as Cllr James Charity (Corrandulla), Kilconnell publican Cllr Timmy Broderick, Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ballinasloe) and Cllr Geraldine Donohue (Loughrea) may consider throwing their hats into the ring.
(Photo: the three sitting East Galway TDs after being elected).