The Mayor of Galway has become the latest candidate to declare for the forthcoming by-election, to fill the Dáil seat vacated by President Catherine Connolly.
The announcement by Independent Mike Cubbard comes a little under two months before the expected polling day in late May.
Mr Cubbard is currently serving his third term as Mayor of Galway, having previously held the role on successive occasions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has contested a number of general elections in Galway West, since he was first elected as a councillor in 2014.
In November 2024 he garnered just over 2,200 first preference votes.
He said he will be standing on a "Galway First" platform, where he would weigh all decisions he would make in the Dáil on whether they would effectively benefit the lives of those living in the constituency.
The by-election to fill the fifth seat in Galway West results from the election of Ms Connolly to the Office of President last year.
Other declared candidates include Sean Kyne of Fine Gael, Labour's Helen Ogbu, Noel Thomas from Independent Ireland, along with Independents Thomas Welby and Sheila Garrity.
Mark Lohan is standing for Sinn Féin, Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich for the Social Democrats, the Green Party is represented by Niall Murphy, Denman Rooke runs for People Before Profit, while Orla Nugent is the Aontú candidate.
Fianna Fáil will select its candidate at the weekend.
