Three candidates are set to compete in Ireland’s presidential election: a former government minister, a former sports coach, and an independent left-wing politician. The three-way race was confirmed on Wednesday when the nomination period ended without any political outsiders making it onto the ballot.
Heather Humphreys, a former cabinet minister, will represent the ruling centre-right Fine Gael party. Jim Gavin, who coached Dublin’s Gaelic football team, is running for its centrist coalition partner, Fianna Fáil. Catherine Connolly, a vocal pro-Palestinian politician, is backed by small left-wing opposition parties as well as Sinn Féin, which chose not to run its own candidate.
The election on 24 October will conclude the 14-year presidency of Michael D Higgins, who has been both praised and criticized for using the largely ceremonial role to speak out on global issues, particularly regarding Gaza.
Several well-known figures had expressed interest in running but failed to secure the required support from four local councils or 20 members of parliament. These included Michael Flatley, Bob Geldof, and mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, who received an endorsement from Elon Musk.
Gareth Sheridan, a pharmaceutical tycoon, and Maria Steen, a social conservative activist, also narrowly missed the nomination threshold. Steen said on Wednesday that she regretted not making the ballot and that the public’s desire for an alternative candidate would remain unmet. Some commentators, including those who disagreed with her views, had hoped she would run to offer voters more choice.
The Irish presidency was once a quiet role for establishment figures, but Mary Robinson’s unexpected win in 1990 began an era of more personality-driven campaigns.
A poll from 14 September, taken before Sinn Féin endorsed Connolly, showed her with 17% support, behind Gavin at 18% and Humphreys at 22%. Analysts note that most voters in Irish presidential elections only start paying attention in the final two weeks of the campaign, around the time of televised debates.
Each candidate has already faced controversy. Connolly, 68, has been criticized for meeting supporters of Bashar al-Assad during a 2018 trip to Syria and for recently telling the BBC that Hamas is “part of the fabric” of the Palestinian people—a remark that concerned Labour and the Social Democrats, both of which support her campaign.
Gavin, 54, a political newcomer with backgrounds in sports, aviation, and the military, has criticized social media companies for allowing what he called “completely unacceptable” lies and misinformation about him and his family. He stated, “I’m not going to stand for it, and society shouldn’t stand for it either.”
Humphreys, 62, a Presbyterian from the border county of Monaghan, has faced questions over her inability to speak Irish and her family’s historical ties to the pro-union Orange Order in Northern Ireland. She has stated that she supports Irish unity, and her backers highlight her Protestant background as a sign of inclusivity.Heritage might help win over Northern Ireland’s unionists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the confirmed threeway Irish presidential election contest designed to be clear and helpful for a range of readers
General Information
Q Who are the three confirmed candidates in the Irish presidential election
A The three confirmed candidates are You should check a reliable news source for the most uptodate and accurate list
Q What is the role of the President of Ireland
A The President is the head of state Their role is largely ceremonial and apolitical involving duties like signing laws into effect representing Ireland abroad and appointing the Taoiseach
Q When is the presidential election taking place
A The election date is set by the government You can find the official date on the website of the Irish government or the Electoral Commission
The Election Process
Q How does someone become a presidential candidate
A A candidate can get on the ballot in one of two ways 1 Be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or 2 Be nominated by at least four local councils
Q Why are there only three candidates Isnt that a small number
A The nomination process is very difficult requiring significant support from politicians or councils A threecandidate race is common as its a high bar to meet
Q How is the winner decided
A Ireland uses a voting system called the Single Transferable Vote Voters rank the candidates in order of preference If no candidate gets over 50 of the firstpreference votes the lowestranked candidate is eliminated and their votes are transferred to the voters second choices until one candidate has a majority
For Voters
Q How can I check if I am registered to vote
A You can check your voter registration status online at checktheregisterie or by contacting your local authority
Q What should I do if Im not registered
A You need to complete a supplement to the Register of Electors form These are
