#irish-presidential-election

#irish-presidential-election

I think that's something that's not much discussed. I hear a lot of reference to Heather Humphreys as the Fine Gael candidate, which she is, but she's also the candidate that's now backed by a number of members of the Labour Party, a number of members of the Green Party, a number of members of the Fianna Fáil party, including the Taoiseach and the former Fianna Fáil taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, many Independent TDs, Michael Healy Rae, Seán Canney, Marian Harkin, and many Independent councillors as well.

A former government minister, a former sports coach and an independent leftwing politician are to contest Ireland's presidential election. The three-way race was confirmed on Wednesday when the nomination window closed without any political outsiders getting on the ballot. Heather Humphreys, a former cabinet minister, will run for the ruling centre-right Fine Gael party. Jim Gavin, who managed Dublin's Gaelic football team, will represent its centrist coalition partner, Fianna Fail.

With candidate selection marred by in-fighting, the election has become as much about internal party politics as the race for the Áras itself When they wake up on the October Bank Holiday Monday, when the votes have been counted and the 10th President of Ireland is known, either Mícheál Martin or Simon Harris - or both - will have a serious political headache.

As politicians seem so slow out of the blocks in this race, maybe it's time to look elsewhere for our next president - even Michael O'Leary would be a welcome injection of energy

Gareth Sheridan, a 35-year-old businessman from Dublin, has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of Ireland as an Independent candidate.