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 the candidate 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 threshold. Steen said on Wednesday, “I regret to say it was not enough and that time has now run out,” adding that the public’s “hunger for an alternative candidate” would go unfulfilled. Some commentators, including those who disagreed with Steen’s views, had hoped she would make the ballot to offer voters more choice.
The presidency was once a comfortable post for establishment figures, but Mary Robinson’s unexpected win in 1990 began an era where campaigns focused more on candidates’ personalities than party ties.
An opinion 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 pay close 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. “I’m not going to stand for it, and society shouldn’t stand for it,” he said.
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 persuade Northern Ireland’s unionists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the confirmed threecandidate Irish presidential election
General Information
Q Who are the three confirmed candidates in the Irish presidential election
A The confirmed candidates are Michael D Higgins Peter Casey and Joan Freeman
Q When is the presidential election taking place
A The election is scheduled for Friday October 26 2018
Q What is the main job of the Irish President
A The President is the head of state and has largely ceremonial duties like signing bills into law appointing the Taoiseach and representing Ireland at home and abroad
The Candidates Their Campaigns
Q Is the current President running again
A Yes Michael D Higgins is seeking a second sevenyear term
Q Who are the other two candidates and what are their backgrounds
A Peter Casey is a businessman and a former Dragons Den TV personality Joan Freeman is a senator and the founder of the suicide prevention charity Pieta House
Q Why are there only three candidates I thought more people were nominated
A To become a formal candidate a nominee must secure the support of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities Only these three candidates successfully met this requirement
The Election Process
Q How does the voting work in a presidential election
A Voters rank the candidates in order of preference If no candidate gets more than 50 of the firstchoice votes the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their votes are redistributed based on the next preference until one candidate has a majority
Q Who is eligible to vote in this election
A All Irish citizens who are aged 18 or over and registered to vote
Q What happens if a candidate drops out before the election
A The election would proceed as a contest between the remaining candidates
Deeper Analysis Scenarios
Q Is Michael D Higgins guaranteed to win since hes the incumbent
A While incumbents often have an advantage an election is never a guarantee However in this specific race President Higgins was widely considered the strong favourite to win
