Selection of Fianna Fáil Presidential Candidate Looms
Irish lawmakers from Fianna Fáil will make a crucial decision next week as they select between two candidates: veteran politician Billy Kelleher and former Gaelic football manager Jim Gavin, reports 24brussels.
Prime Minister Micheál Martin, the leader of Fianna Fáil, has publicly endorsed Gavin, a newcomer to politics who achieved remarkable success with Dublin’s football team by securing five consecutive All-Ireland championships. However, some backbenchers express discontent, believing that Kelleher — who served as a Cork lawmaker from 1997 to 2019 and is now a Member of the European Parliament — is more deserving of the candidacy. The decision will be made during a secret ballot scheduled for Tuesday evening.
The uncertainty surrounding Sinn Féin’s intentions poses another layer of complexity to the race. The main opposition party has yet to confirm whether it will field a candidate or support Connolly, who aligns with Sinn Féin’s pro-Palestinian stance. Sinn Féin has already ruled out backing another potential candidate, singer and human rights activist Bob Geldof.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who has been at the helm since 2018, has not excluded the possibility of her own candidacy. The party’s lawmakers plan to convene behind closed doors on September 20, just four days ahead of the nomination deadline.
Other prospective candidates face significant challenges in gaining traction among members of Dáil Éireann, Ireland’s bicameral parliament. They must secure an endorsement from at least four city or county councils to have a viable path to the ballot.
Among those actively seeking support from local councillors are mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, former Riverdance star Michael Flatley, pharmaceutical entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, retired weather broadcaster Joanna Donnelly, anti-abortion advocate Maria Steen, immigration critic Nick Delehanty, and former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who has faced political challenges since his financial controversies came to light in 2008.
In light of the indecision surrounding the candidate field, Irish media outlets have not yet conducted comprehensive polling on the anticipated election outcome.
However, bookmakers in Ireland have begun accepting bets, positioning Jim Gavin as the early frontrunner, followed closely by Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys. Connolly and McDonald are considered long shots at 10-to-1, though McDonald’s odds may improve if she decides to run.