Fine Gael and Independent Ireland leading Galway by-election poll

Seán Kyne, a former junior minister, leads the poll on 17% followed by Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas on 16%

Fine Gael have elected Senator Seán Kyne to run in the upcoming by-election in Galway West/ Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

Fine Gael senator Sean Kyne holds a narrow lead in Galway West's by-election according to an Irish Times/TG4 opinion poll of the constituency.

Mr Kyne, a former junior minister, leads the poll on 17% of first preferences, followed by Independent Ireland's Noel Thomas on 16% and Labour councillor Helen Ogbu on 12%.

Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich of the Social Democrats is on 9%, while Fianna Fáil's Cillian Keane is a point behind. Both former mayor Mike Cubbard and Sinn Féin's Mark Lohan are on 7%, with Green Party candidate Niall Murphy and independent Thomas Welby on 6%.

Orla Nugent of Áontú is clocking at 4% of support with Sheila Garrity, the independent who was co-convener of President Catherine Connolly's Galway campaign, is on 3%. 

Ms Connolly's victory in the presidential race in October triggered the by-election.

Mr Kyne's lead appears more solid given he is more transfer-friendly than Mr Thomas according to the poll. 15% of respondents would give Mr Kyne theirs, while just 7% said the same for Mr Thomas. A total of 11% said they would give a second preference to Ms Ogbu, and 14% said theirs would go to Mr Welby.

When asked what they thought the most important issue would be, 27% of those polled said roads, while 26% said housing.

The survey was conducted by phone among a sample of 530 adults in the constituency on behalf of TG4 and The Irish Times by Ipsos B&A and has a margin of error of plus or minus four points.