This is his first time running in a general election after he ran unsuccessfully in the 2014 local elections for Galway City Council. A self-employed painter and community activist, he is involved with a number of local and charitable organisations and has run the New York Marathon almost 20 times to raise money for good causes.

We need a real left alternative to the current political system. I will put all the people I represent at the heart of every decision that's made.

Housing. We need social housing built immediately to tackle the crisis. Families are homeless while there are houses left unoccupied throughout Galway.

We will set out to abolish Irish Water and scrap water charges. This has been the last straw for people struggling from the austerity measures of this government.