The convener of Catherine Connolly’s presidential campaign in her home city has announced she will be a candidate in the forthcoming byelection in Galway West.
Sheila Garrity, a Galway-based university lecturer, will stand as an Independent candidate in the byelection, which is likely to be held in late April or early May.
Dr Garrity grew up in Canada and has been a resident of the city for 25 years. She spearheaded Ms Connolly’s election campaign in the constituency and also encouraged supporters to join Tonn na Clé, a new left-wing movement in Galway.
A lecturer in early childhood education, she was not expected to stand. After 25 years at the University of Galway, she has taken up a position at Dublin City University and is commuting to and from the capital each week.
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She also indicated her support for Cllr Éibhlín Seoighthe as a candidate. Ms Seoighthe, who resigned from the Social Democrats, was also a leading figure in the Connolly election campaign. However, she indicated last week that she would not be contesting the byelection.
Ms Garrity will now be seen as the Connolly “continuity” candidate in much the same way as Maureen O’Sullivan was seen as the “Tony Gregory candidate” in the 2009 byelection in Dublin Central following the death of the long-time independent TD. Ms O’Sullivan won that byelection.
On Thursday, Ms Garrity said she has worked as a volunteer for more than 20 years supporting the causes, campaigns and candidates who share her values.
“I’m stepping forward now, for the first time as a candidate, because I want to continue that work directly, openly, and with the people of Galway West at the centre,” she said.
“My priority is simple: the needs of the people of Galway West come first. Every decision should be shaped by fairness, dignity, and an awareness of the lived realities of our varied communities, from our islands, to villages and towns, to our urban neighbourhoods.
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A number of other candidates have declared that they will run in the byelection. Moycullen-based Cllr Noel Thomas, the Independent Ireland candidate, finished sixth in the general election in November. A former member of Fianna Fáil, he left the party after it initiated an internal inquiry into comments he made about a proposed accommodation centre for asylum seekers in 2023.
The Independent Oughterard Cllr Thomas Welby has also announced his candidacy. He is a close political associate of the Independent TD and Minister of State Noel Grealish.
Former Green Party cllr Niall Murphy has also said he will contest the election. Labour’s Helen Ogbu, a member of Galway City Council, is expected to be endorsed by her party next week, while a former Independent mayor of the city, Cllr Mike Cubbard, is also said to be considering his options.
The three larger parties: Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin, will hold conventions in February and March to choose their candidates.
