Ray McAdam tipped to win Seanad byelection as rival fails to get Sinn Féin backing

The Irish Times · Harry McGee · 2026-11-05 18:45 UTC

Opposition vote is split between independent candidates Maeve O’Rourke and Caitlín Ní Bhroin

Independent candidate Maeve O’Rourke’s hopes of pulling off an upset in the Seanad byelection have suffered a setback after Sinn Féin decided to support a rival candidate.

O’Rourke, an academic and human rights lawyer, is one of four candidates contesting the byelection, which was triggered by the vacancy arising from the election of Fine Gael’s Seanad member Seán Kyne to the Dáil in May.

His Fine Gael colleague, former Dublin Lord Mayor Ray McAdam, is the party’s candidate and is regarded as the favourite to win the seat.

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