Labour leader Eamon Gilmore has said his party is preparing for a General Election, saying the Government is "unravelling". Speaking to the Galway Independent just hours after the release of a poll showing Fianna Fail with the worst ratings in the party's history, trailing Fine Gael by seven points, Deputy Gilmore said the drop in support for the Government was unprecedented, and suggested a "major political change" for the Government.

The poll showed the Labour Party down one per cent to 14 per cent, but also revealed Caltra native Gilmore to be the nation’s favourite political leader.

"In the last two MRBI polls we were at 14 or 15 per cent. That's a 40 to 50 per cent increase on the General Election, and we've been going up incrementally since then," he said, adding that they had to be viewed in their totality.

Announcing the party's six candidates in Galway City for next year's Local Elections on Thursday evening, Deputy Gilmore said Labour was "making a statement" by running six candidates, and was confident of a good result.

"We were encouraged by the General Election, with Michael D topping the poll. And since then we’ve had a 14 per cent increase," he added.

The six candidates chosen at last week's convention were, in the East Ward, sitting Councillor Tom Costello, with previous candidates Derek Nolan and Nuala Nolan (no relation).

Sitting councillors Billy Cameron and Colette Connolly will run in Galway City Central, while the West Ward will be contested by Niall McNelis.

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