Urgent Nomination Day: Áras Presidential Candidates Scramble for Ballot

UPDATE: Today is a critical day for presidential hopefuls as local councils finalize their nominations for the upcoming election. With just hours left, the futures of key candidates like Gareth Sheridan and Maria Steen hang in the balance.

FINAL COUNCIL HEARINGS are underway, and the stakes could not be higher. Sheridan, already backed by Kerry and Tipperary Councils, is appearing before Meath, Offaly, and Louth County Councils today. He aims to secure the necessary nominations from four local authorities to qualify for the ballot. Meanwhile, former Cork Mayor Kieran McCarthy received the support of Waterford on Friday, becoming the second candidate to do so.

Today’s meetings also include councils from Monaghan, Cork, and Limerick. Leitrim County Council will decide on Steen’s nomination after she presented to councillors last week alongside a dozen other candidates. Steen’s bid for support could be a game-changer; she is vying for a crucial endorsement after gaining attention from junior minister Michael Healy Rae, who has rallied over 10 Oireachtas members to her cause.

The clock is ticking. Candidates must secure nominations by midday on Wednesday, 24 September 2025, to appear on the ballot for the election scheduled for Friday, 24 October 2025. As of now, only three councils have nominated candidates, making the competition fierce and the process frustrating for many.

Concerns are mounting as political parties like Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have reportedly instructed their councillors to limit support for candidates outside their party lines. This directive has created a narrow pathway for hopefuls trying to gain traction. Despite these limitations, some councillors are defying party orders. For instance, Tipperary’s Mary Hanna Hourigan criticized her party’s stance as “undemocratic” and voted for Sheridan, although he ultimately did not secure a nomination from Tipperary County Council.

Support for candidates is shifting rapidly as the nomination deadline approaches. Catherine Connolly, the only other candidate officially in the race, has garnered backing from Sinn Féin, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald promising to “give it our all” to secure her election.

With tensions high and prospects uncertain, the next few hours will determine who will make it to the ballot. Keep an eye on your local councils as these final decisions unfold, and prepare for a dramatic lead-up to the election.

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