Independent Ireland candidate says many people believe Government ‘completely disconnected from the ordinary person’Noel Thomas of Independent Ireland canvassing with party leader Michael Collins in Galway in April. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Andrew HamiltonWed May 20 2026 - 14:01 • 3 MIN READIf 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 (FG) 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.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. Noel Thomas canvassing in Galway ahead of the Galway West byelection. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
