Galway East Election 2024: Who are the candidates and who could make gains? Everything you need to know before voting

Former junior minister Ciarán Cannon is among the 18 Fine Gael TDs who have decided not to run for re-election, putting four seats up for grabs with just two incumbents in the race.

The constituency takes in most of the eastern half of county Galway and several towns including Tuam, Athenry, Loughrea, Gort and Portumna.

Current TDs (four seats) Seán Canney (Ind), Ciarán Cannon (FG), Anne Rabbitte (FF)

Are there any boundary changes that could be crucial? As part of the Boundary Commission's efforts to reduce breaches of county borders, much of north Co Galway has been returned from Roscommon-Galway, moving Galway East up from a three-seater to a four-seater.

Who could make gains here? Fianna Fáil's Anne Rabbitte should comfortably retain her seat, as should Independent Seán Canney. There are questions over who out of a crowded field of Fine Gael candidates might ensure their party holds on to the seat vacated by Mr Cannon.

Sinn Féin came agonisingly close to a seat in 2020 when there were three seats, so the addition of a fourth will have the main opposition party hopeful their man Louis O'Hara will be able to avenge that narrow loss.

Anything besides holds for Ms Rabbitte and Mr Canney and Fine Gael retaining its seat through one of its three runners, most likely councillor Pete Roche, would be a shock here. Mr O'Hara and the other Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael candidates will have their eyes on the last seat.

Ms Rabbite's running mate, Athenry/Oranmore councillor Albert Dolan, is hugely popular and has been elected on the first count in back-to-back local elections, so Fianna Fáil could be in with a chance of a second seat if he can make that popularity translate to a bigger voter base.

With three Fine Gael candidates in the field, the party's position atop the polls could see them benefit from the extra seat, but Niamh Madden and city councillor Clodagh Higgins are both newcomers to the constituency.

What issues are under the spotlight? Much of the county's rural and agricultural communities are based in Galway East, meaning farming is always high on the agenda here and that vote will be crucial.

A recent report on the scale of dereliction across the country revealed Galway is one of the worst affected counties and many of the major towns in the constituency have been hit particularly hard by commercial vacancies, making rural regeneration a key issue.

While technically an issue for Galway city, the traffic congestion that has plagued Galway for years is also important, with many voters living in Galway East working in the city and dealing with gridlock that only continues to get worse.

Voters will also be looking for assurances on the use of smoky fuels like turf amid anger over plans to give local authorities the power to seize vehicles, confiscate and destroy unapproved fuels and in some cases, raid private homes.

Conor Burke (Solidarity – People Before Profit)

Seán Canney (Independent)*

Albert Dolan (Fianna Fáil)

Clodagh Higgins (Fine Gael)

Eoin Madden (Green Party)

Niamh Madden (Fine Gael)

Paul Madden (Independent)

Louis O'Hara (Sinn Féin)

David 'Irish Chariot' O'Reilly (The Irish People)

Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fáil)*

Pete Roche (Fine Gael)

Luke Silke (Aontú)