{"id":146502,"date":"2025-10-26T16:58:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T16:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/146502\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T16:58:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T16:58:08","slug":"sinn-fein-to-run-own-candidate-in-byelection-prompted-by-connolly-presidency-win-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/146502\/","title":{"rendered":"Sinn F\u00e9in to run own candidate in byelection prompted by Connolly presidency win \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sinn F\u00e9in<\/a> will run its own candidate rather than getting behind a united left candidate in the byelection due to take place as a result of Independent TD Catherine Connolly<\/a> winning the presidential election<\/a>, party leader Mary Lou McDonald<\/a> has confirmed. <\/p>\n

Ms McDonald instead expressed a preference for encouraging transfers with other left-wing parties for the Galway West byelection. <\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in joined the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit and left-wing Independents in backing Ms Connolly in the presidential election.<\/p>\n

The move to row in behind a single candidate was hugely successful, with Ms Connolly winning 914,143 votes \u2013 just more than 63 per cent.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Catherine Connolly elected 10th president of Ireland in landslide victoryOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

The election to fill her D\u00e1il seat in Galway West must be called within six months of Ms Connolly taking office on November 11th.<\/p>\n

Sinn F\u00e9in topped the poll in the Galway West constituency with its candidate Mair\u00e9ad Farrell in last year\u2019s general election.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0Miriam Lord: Catherine Connolly rises serenely as brutal presidential election has uplifting endOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

On Sunday, Ms McDonald was asked on RT\u00c9\u2019s The Week in Politics about the possibility of a united left candidate in the byelection.<\/p>\n

Ms McDonald said: \u201cSinn F\u00e9in will contest the byelection. We\u2019re all individual, distinct parties.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also said: \u201cI hope in that contest, as with others, we will find a way to transfer to and from each other\u201d and \u201cwe can still on areas where we have common cause and common platforms, we can put that forward in a very, very constructive way\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ms McDonald added: \u201cBut remember, in Galway West, the Sinn F\u00e9in candidate topped the poll. <\/p>\n

\u201cI mean we\u2019ve got a very strong mandate for there, and not alone will we contest that election, we will contest to win that seat and to make sure that it doesn\u2019t fall to the Government. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think that would be a bad outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about the prospect of a transfer pact in the absence of a united left candidate, Ms McDonald said: \u201cOf course I can\u2019t be presumptuous. I have to go and talk to colleagues on that. But that would be my instinct on it, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Connolly\u2019s sister Colette Connolly, a former Galway City councillor herself, declined to comment when contacted by The Irish Times on whether or not she will run in the byelection.<\/p>\n

[\u00a0B\u00e9ibhinn O\u2019Connor: the power behind Catherine Connolly\u2019s victorious run to the \u00c1rasOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Fine Gael Senator Se\u00e1n Kyne, a former Galway West TD, congratulated Catherine Connolly on her election as president and said: \u201cI will reflect on the question of a byelection but won\u2019t be making any comment until the new year. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe writ doesn\u2019t have to be moved until next May at the latest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Councillor Eibhl\u00edn Seoighthe \u2013 who contested the general election in the constituency for the Social Democrats but has since left the party and now sits on Galway City Council \u2013 pointed to an Instagram post<\/a> when contacted about her intentions towards the byelection.<\/p>\n

In the post she said she is \u201cloathe to be putting out a statement in relation to a byelection so soon\u201d.<\/p>\n

She referred to her participation in the Connolly campaign and how the \u201cpost-election slump hits hard\u201d for volunteers.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI will be taking some time off to catch up on much needed family time, catch up on work, see my friends, and see if my voice will come back. That is all I have to say for now.\u201d<\/p>\n