Éamon Ó Cuív coy on Dáil run in Galway West if Catherine Connolly wins race for the Áras

When asked about a potential run, the Fianna Fáil stalwart replied: 'Never make a decision what to do at the next crossroads until you get there'

The 'Irish Examiner' asked former Fianna Fáil TD and minister Éamon Ó Cuív if he would run in a Galway West by-election if Catherine Connolly wins the presidential election. File picture: Paul Sherwood 

Fianna Fáil veteran Éamon Ó Cuív is remaining coy on the prospect of contesting a by-election following the presidential election. 

He told the Irish Examiner that, while he is “retired” from politics, people should “never make a decision what to do at the next crossroads until you get there”.

Voters head to the polls on Friday to cast their votes for independent candidate Catherine Connolly or Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.

Despite his decision to withdraw from the election, Fianna Fáil's nominee, former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin, will still appear on the ballot paper.

An Irish Times IPSOS/B&A poll published last Thursday showed Ms Connolly holding a commanding lead over Ms Humphreys. Some 38% of those polled said they would vote for Ms Connolly, compared to 20% for Ms Humphreys.

If Ms Connolly does win the election, it will force a by-election in the Galway West constituency where she currently holds a Dáil seat as an Independent TD.

This had led some to speculate about who may contest the election, including suggestions that former Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív could come out of retirement and contest the potential by-election. He retired ahead of last year’s general election.

Asked by the Irish Examiner if he would contest a by-election, were one to occur, Mr Ó Cuív said he was retired and enjoying his work away from politics.

When asked if he could be tempted back to the Dáil, he said: “I don’t think so. I retired from politics.” However, he added: 

In life, if you’re going somewhere, never make a decision on what to do at the next crossroads until you get there. 

"You might find roadworks, you might find all sorts of things. We haven’t even gotten as far as the by-election. That’s kind of pre-empting.”

When it was put to Mr Ó Cuív that he did not appear to be ruling out a potential by-election run, he responded: “You can say what you want. I retired.”

The Fianna Fáil stalwart told the 'Irish Examiner' in July that he was undecided about whether to contest the presidential election.

Mr Ó Cuív, a longstanding critic of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, recently criticised comments by the Fianna Fáil leader regarding Ms Connolly’s decision to hire a woman with a gun conviction. 

Mr Ó Cuív had recommended Ursula Ní Shionnáin to Ms Connolly.

Despite a by-election writ not having to be moved for six months after a TD’s resignation, if a seat were to be vacated by Ms Connolly, Senator Sean Kyne is being tipped for a run for Fine Gael, while Sinn Féin has two councillors in Galway.

Noel Thomas, a former Fianna Fáil councillor who defected to Independent Ireland following a clash over asylum-seeker accommodation, contested the 2024 general election in Galway West. 

Other candidates who unsuccessfully contested the election include former Green Party senator Pauline O’Reilly and Fianna Fáil ‘celebrity candidate’ Gráinne Seoige.