Dr Kevin Cunningham
Political scientist, pollster and data analyst
I work on elections, public opinion and the methods used to measure them – survey design, weighting, forecasting, and turning polling data into something people can use.
I lecture in politics at TU Dublin and run Ireland Thinks, a polling and research company. I also advise organisations across Europe on public opinion and strategy. Before that I led targeting and analysis for the Labour Party in the UK.
Projects
- Polling
Ireland Thinks Opinion polling and research in Ireland, for public bodies, academics, media and parties.
- Consultancy
Research and strategic advice across Europe Polling, message testing and strategic analysis for political parties in many European countries, and for regulatory and public bodies (including a central bank), media organisations and NGOs.
Background
- NowLecturer in Politics, TU Dublin
- 2016 –Founder and Managing Director, Ireland Thinks
- EarlierTargeting & Analysis Manager, the Labour Party (UK)
- EarlierResearcher, EU-funded project on the politicisation of immigration
Education
- 2009 – 2012PhD, Political Science – Trinity College Dublin
- 2008 – 2009MSc, Applied Statistics – University of Oxford
Media
I comment regularly on Irish, British and European politics and polling. On television I appear on Virgin Media's Ireland AM and The Tonight Show, and on RTÉ's Prime Time, The Week in Politics and election coverage, as well as Sky News; on radio, RTÉ Radio 1, Newstalk and Today FM. I write a monthly poll analysis for the Sunday Independent and have been quoted in the Financial Times, the Economist, the Atlantic, the New York Times and the Guardian.
- Writing
Kevin Cunningham's poll analysis: Public demand for giveaway budget is at odds with warnings on fiscal prudence Sunday Independent, 4 Oct 2026
- Quoted
Eurovision planning to switch to online voting to limit interference campaigns TheJournal.ie, 14 Aug 2026
- TV
Andy Burnham's First Day as UK Prime Minister: What It Means for Ireland Virgin Media One, The Tonight Show, 20 Jul 2026
- Podcasts
What do Irish voters really want? Live at the IFI with Dr Kevin Cunningham Irish Times – Inside Politics with Hugh Linehan, 22 Dec 2025
- Radio
A year since the first sitting of the 34th Dáil: State of the Parties RTÉ Radio 1 – Today with David McCullagh, 11 Dec 2025