Such elections traditionally give voters a chance to thump the Government Listen | 29:57Running for office in Dublin Central: Ruth O’Dea, Labour Party candidate, on the canvass. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Thu May 21 2026 - 08:13When two TDs left for bigger gigs last year it triggered elections to fill their places. Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe left for a big job at the World Bank and Independent TD Catherine Connolly left for a bigger job in Áras an Uachtaráin. On Friday voters in Dublin Central and in Galway West will be faced with long ballot papers, but The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A polls suggest the early emergence of a small number of clear favourites in both constituencies. But who are they? How did the candidates perform in the last week of canvassing? And will the Government have a bad day at the polls? Irish Times political editor Pat Leahy gives his take on what’s happening in these two constituencies and predicts who will win.Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Declan Conlon.Bernice HarrisonBernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast