GREEN PARTY LEADER Roderic O’Gorman told his party’s conference that the “Green tide is rising again” after the success of the UK Green Party yesterday in the Gorton and Denton by-election.

The Greens are having their convention in Kilkenny today.

Addressing the party members gathered at Newpark Hotel, O’Gorman, the party’s sole TD, drew heavily on the success of its sister party in the UK as the Irish Greens prepare to contest its own by-elections.

“This is a momentous time for our sister party – it’s their first ever by-election victory and
it comes just weeks before they contest a series of pivotal elections across the UK,” the Dublin West TD said.

“Three months from now we will have two by-elections of our own to contest,” he continued. “Yesterday’s result tells us one thing, in May, Greens can win – everywhere.”

The Greens have announced its councillor Janet Horner will be contesting the by-election in Dublin Central, while former Galway city councillor Niall Murphy will be contesting the seat in Galway West. 

Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman pictured with by-election candidates Niall Murphy and Janet Horner with party members at the Green Party Convention in Kilkenny earlier today. Andres Poveda Andres Poveda

O’Gorman said the party has worked to rebuild its image over the past year after it was decimated in the general election in November 2024. The party went from a junior coalition partner in Government on 12 seats to one seat, landing back on Opposition benches.

The Greens plan to win back some of its lost seats at council, Dáil, European, and Assembly level, he said.

O’Gorman spoke at length regarding the climate crisis and slammed Government for “scapegoating vulnerable people” as regards the rhetoric around migration, as well as poor delivery on infrastructure.