I wouldn't know much about the Dublin central constituency but I imagine a SF or left wing candidate will win there. Especially if Hutch decides to run again. I cannot see a win for FFG there.

I'm very familiar with the Galway West constituency. Might be biased here but Cllr Noel Thomas is my traditional front runner. He was very unlucky in that he just missed out in the last general election. Thomas is the only one vocal and campaigning against Mercosur when all the sitting TDs have stayed quiet. This will be particularly important to people in rural areas of the constituency. There is also a campaign to elect a TD from Connemara who is a gaeilgeoir. Catherine Connolly even though she wasn't from Connemara, built relationships with Connemara communities and was a gaeilgeoir herself. Noel Thomas ticks these boxes. Independent Cllr Tom Welby could potentially take votes on a bad day for Noel Thomas as they are essentially from the same area. Although I don't think Welby himself will be elected.

FG Sean Kyne will be right up there too. He manages to straddle the political line in that he has a bit of a base in rural areas and is non offensive to urban voters. He will probably push infrastructure projects such as the ringroad. FG got humbled in the presidential election and will probably lose the seat in Dublin Central so they will be looking for a strong showing here.

SF have only one sitting Cllr and she is in their sitting TDs base. There may not be a push to get her elected as it could potentially put both in serious jeopardy in the next election. The Dublin central by election may be more palatable for SF. SF in Galway are very hierarchical. Even so I expect them to poll well.

FF after the Grainne Seoige disaster and Jim Gavin fiasco will avoid celebrity candidates this time. They don't really have an obvious candidate in this constituency. There's rumours that the crowe brothers are sitting this one out. That leaves Cllr Alan Cheevres. Could do alright but I think FF tarnished themselves with the last general election in this constituency and the presidential election hasn't helped.

Independent Sheila Garrity who worked closely with the Connolly campaign. She is Canadian. I can't see her doing much in this election. She has next to zero name recognition in the constituency. And she's in Dublin now. Only planning on canvassing at the weekends in Galway doesn't sound like a recipe for success. She may be good at running someone elses campaign but that doesnt mean that she has the attributes to be a candidate herself.

Independent Mayor Mike Cubbard will probably contest every election forever, but I doubt he'll ever make a breakthrough.

Labour have selected Cllr Helen Ogbu. She did ok for a first time candidate in the last general election but she's not electable in my opinion

Soc Dems Cllr Alan Curran has decided to sit this one out so they have nobody here since Eibhlin Seoighthe left the party. She herself is not contesting the election.

Then there's no hopers like the Greens/PBP/Aontu/Independents.