Overview
- The Irish Times/TG4/Ipsos B&A poll shows Sean Kyne on 17% first preferences, with Noel Thomas on 16% and Labour’s Helen Ogbu on 12%, and it projects Kyne to win after transfers.
- Under Ireland’s ranked-choice system, lower-placed candidates are eliminated and their votes move to those still in contention, which could favor Kyne in such a fragmented field.
- The survey of 530 eligible voters, conducted by phone between 1 and 5 May with a margin of error of about ±4%, indicates the race remains tight despite the early lead.
- Labour has asked RTÉ’s Director General Kevin Bakhurst to include Ogbu in upcoming Galway West TV debates, arguing the poll shows she is now the leading left candidate.
- Voters named the Galway bypass and housing as top concerns, many said recent fuel protests influenced their choice, and the poll shows Fianna Fáil support down to 8% from 16.8% in 2024, with polling day set for 22 May.