If Noel Thomas pulls off a win in this week’s Galway West byelection, it will be a fresh blow in a series of recent knocks for Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
The Independent Ireland councillor, who is in second place behind Sean Kyne (Fine Gael) according to last week’s Irish Times/TG4 opinion poll, left Fianna Fáil in March of 2024 after a major fall-out with the party over its immigration policy.
Just three months later he topped the poll in Connemara in the 2024 local election, and, speaking at the time, criticised his treatment by Martin and claimed he had “destroyed Fianna Fáil”.
There is clearly no love lost between Thomas and his former party leader.
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While the Moycullen politician spent the last two years growing his base in Galway West, his former party endured a challenging general election in 2024, where celebrity candidate Gráinne Seoige secured just 4.9 per cent of first-preference votes. Current Fianna Fáil byelection candidate Cillian Keane looks to be fighting an uphill battle.
Thomas received a warm reception from locals as he canvassed in Boleybeg, between Bearna and Salthill, last weekend.
He says the cost-of-living crisis is the biggest issue being raised on doorsteps, and that many people believe the Government is “completely disconnected from the ordinary person”.
“Cost of living, no question – it is one of the biggest things we hear. The fuel protest, definitely [was a big thing], but that is a direct link to the cost of living,” he says.
“There are people who are sick of the Government parties. People feel let down, they feel that the current Government is not representing them at all. I think they are right about that.
“They [the Government] seem to have become completely disconnected from the ordinary person on the ground. People are saying that everywhere we go.
“The ordinary person, when you knock on their door, they feel like they have no other purpose but to be there to pay taxes for the Government.”
While Thomas came to national attention for his stance on immigration, he says he is not anti-immigrant or racist, and that Ireland is one of the most welcoming countries in the world.
He says migrants are an important part of the Irish economy, but he believes Irish people get upset when, he claims, immigrants have “everything handed to them” by the State.
‘Independent Ireland have been calling for a long time for responsible measures in relation to the immigration coming into this country. The Government failed miserably on that – that is why we are in the position that we are in today’
— Noel Thomas, Independent Ireland
“You hear talk about me being anti-immigrant or whatever, but that is rubbish. When I come across somebody who is extreme on the other side [the left], they might tackle me [about immigration], and I ask them to tell me straight one thing I said that was racist. That’s the end of the argument,” he says.
“I think a lot of people are fed up because they see people coming here and having everything handed to them for nothing, and they still have to work hard and pay taxes, and are getting nothing for them. That is where people are getting a bit peed off.
“I think Ireland is one of the most welcoming countries ever in terms of immigrants coming in here. We all know our economy depends on migrants working in certain sectors.”
The councillor said he had a “great relationship with the Indian community” in Galway.
Thomas, who was a member of Fianna Fáil for three decades, believes both his former party and Fine Gael have adopted the immigration policy advocated by Independent Ireland.
“Immigration is not one of the big issues on the doors. It’s just not,” he said.
“Independent Ireland have been calling for a long time for responsible measures in relation to the immigration coming into this country. The Government failed miserably on that – that is why we are in the position that we are in today.
“It is great to see that the Government seem to be following up on a lot of the policies that we were trying to push forward. They seem to be saying it themselves now. Whether that is just populist talk, I’m not sure.”
With 17 candidates in the Galway West byelection and only one seat on offer, transfers will be critical to deciding who gets elected.
Despite the parties of the left urging their supporters to “vote left and transfer left”, Thomas feels he will pick up transfers from right across the political spectrum.
“Nobody is going to get anywhere close to getting over the line in the first count,” he said.
