Galway West Bye-Election 2026 — Five-Seat Constituency Profile
The Galway West bye-election on 22 May 2026 fills one Dáil seat in a five-seat constituency that stretches from Galway city west through the Connemara Gaeltacht to the Aran Islands. This page sets out the administrative facts of the vacancy and a Census 2022 demographic picture of the area. No candidates, no polls — the data, and an interactive map you can move through the constituency place by place.
The vacancy — what triggered the bye-election
The Galway West bye-election follows the vacancy created by the election of Catherine Connolly as President on 25 October 2025. Connolly had been a TD for Galway West. Galway West is a five-seat Dáil constituency under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2023 boundaries used for the 2024 general election. Polling day is Friday 22 May 2026.
Source: Electoral Commission Ireland · Houses of the Oireachtas
Galway West area profile — Census 2022
Every figure below is aggregated from the Census 2022 electoral divisions whose centroid falls inside the Galway West constituency boundary — spanning Galway city, the Connemara Gaeltacht and the Aran Islands — shown against the national average. They are grouped into four reading sections rather than a single block. Constituency and ED boundaries do not align perfectly, so figures are close approximations; household income is a population-weighted modelled estimate and the deprivation score is a population-weighted index.
Population & community
Galway West is home to 145,201 residents on a modelled median household income of €52,334; disability (21.0%) and general health broadly track the national average.
Work & education
Employment here is in line with the national average (55.7%) and third-level attainment above it (54.0%), while professional and managerial roles sit above (41.2%).
Housing & tenure
Of the area's homes, 58.5% are owner-occupied and 26.2% privately rented, against 76.2% and 11.0% nationally — and 17.3% live in apartments.
Commute & mobility
Car commuting runs at 60.6% against 71.1% nationally; 13.4% of households have no car, and public transport and active travel together account for 18.1% of commuters.
County Galway — housing market context
Galway West on the map
IrelandInsights maps Census 2022 demographics for every electoral division in the Galway West area — population, employment, education, and housing tenure — at a resolution well below county level.
The constituency stretches from the city out across Connemara — Galway City Centre, Salthill, Knocknacarra, Newcastle, Bearna / Barna, An Spidéal / Spiddal, An Cheathrú Rua / Carraroe, Oileáin Árann / Aran Islands, Maigh Cuilinn / Moycullen, Oughterard and An Clochán / Clifden. Each is a distinct census patchwork of electoral divisions; select any place to fly the map there and read its Census 2022 figures in place.
→ Explore the Galway West area on the live map
Related Ireland data
For the wider electoral and demographic context: the Electoral Commission Ireland page covers all 43 constituencies and the 2024 boundary review, and the County Galway census profile sets out the full demographic picture.
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