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Glacial pace of byelection to fill Catherine Connolly’s former Dáil seat

More than 190 days will have elapsed between President’s inauguration and Galway West poll

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times – Letters to the Editor
Sat May 02 2026 - 06:00 • 1 MIN READ

Sir, – The presidential election was held on October 24th last year with President Catherine Connolly inaugurated on November 11th. The byelection for her Dáil seat won’t take place until May 22nd.

Politicians moving from one position of power to another is an entirely normal process.

How there aren’t contingencies to trigger byelections within a few weeks is beyond me. Even in the event of a TD’s unexpected death, it should not take this long. This pace is utterly ridiculous. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL DAY,

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Castlegar,

Galway.