Presidential Election 2025

gormdubhgorm · 19-09-2025 03:28PM

Is there a reason that no former or retiring President as ever nominated a candidate?

Simply because the optics would not look good?

blanch152 · 19-09-2025 03:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831490#Comment_123831490

IS the unknown SF candidate P. O'Neill?

Podge_irl · 19-09-2025 03:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831558#Comment_123831558

They can only nominate themselves.

Downlinz · 19-09-2025 03:55PM

The Green Party has formally endorsed Catherine Connolly.

Unlikely to be a game changer.

blanch152 · 19-09-2025 04:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831631#Comment_123831631

If Sinn Fein think that Sinn Fein endorsing Catherine Connolly is a "game-changer", that is likely to annoy the other left-wing parties as if they are just the supporting cast for MLMD while at the same time making the rest of us think meh, they could have done that two months ago.

FrancieBrady · 19-09-2025 04:31PM

Carlow says no to Sheridan.

For Petes Sake · 19-09-2025 04:46PM

And, bizarrely, Waterford has backed Kieran McCarthy.

Sheridan needs one of Offaly or Meath now, and if he can get one then he goes to Louth with three in his back-pocket, and you'd have to think Louth will give him the 4th.

Not a fan of Sheridan personally and think he's a bit of a chancer, but I'm enjoying the council campaign. Really intriguing.

Loafing Oaf · 19-09-2025 04:46PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831721#Comment_123831721

and Waterford has backed the global icon that is Kieran McCarthy

https://www.thejournal.ie/president-election-councils-6821500-Sep2025/

Is Patch's race run?

Larbre34 · 19-09-2025 04:47PM

Waterford says no to Sheridan and to Steen, but nominates former Cork city mayor Kieran McCarthy. The only standout thing about him, apparently, is that he can hold a tune.

But really the miss out of both Carlow and Waterford for Sheridan is a gut punch for his putative campaign.

To amend my earlier post, I would put the chances for both Sheridan and Steen at less than 50/50 now.

Sheridan goes to Meath and Offaly on Monday, but FF and FG have solid control of both, and when you add in SF members being whipped after tomorrow's announcement, I'd suggest he hasn't a prayer of gaining either.

Loafing Oaf · 19-09-2025 04:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831780#Comment_123831780

put the chances for both Sheridan and Steen at less than 50/50 now.

Sheridan's surely way less, probably more like 5/95?

although councils do funny things as our friends in the sunny south east have just demonstrated…

Downlinz · 19-09-2025 05:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831690#Comment_123831690

I assume the framing will be on five opposition parties + Independents uniting behind a single candidate which is relatively unprecedented and historic rather than Sinn Fein thinking of themselves as King (or Queen) makers.

Water John · 19-09-2025 05:22PM

McCarthy is very much into history and conducts such tours in Cork and writes on the subject. He is not an oddball TMK. Pity his effort wasn't more structured. Steen has 13, needs 3, then the II 4.

Hotblack Desiato · 19-09-2025 05:25PM

I'll never figure out why they vote the way they do in Waterford. Not just this, but electing useless TDs like Mary Butler again and again and again and then complaining when they do nothing for the area. It's bizarre.

Larbre34 · 19-09-2025 05:28PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831826#Comment_123831826

Exactly.

I can't foresee what FF and FG Councillors might be out there trying to make a name for themselves like that loo-lah in Tipperary.

But realistically it would take several of them to defy the whip for it to help him, and this late in the game that is less likely.

So maybe 70/30 against is where he is at now.

Hotblack Desiato · 19-09-2025 05:33PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831879#Comment_123831879

How many other councils has he presented to?

This is not a serious campaign by any stretch of the imagination. If you're putting yourself forward as essentially a joke candidate, you are an oddball.

Cluedo Monopoly · 19-09-2025 05:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831631#Comment_123831631

That's Blanch's party 🙂. I hope they advise a makeover etc.

Cluedo Monopoly · 19-09-2025 05:42PM

Very much looking forward to Path to Power and Ivan's take on the election.

markodaly · 19-09-2025 05:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831303#Comment_123831303

They may have consulted the membership, but people like Lynn Boylan don't even know who the candidate is going to be.
So in reality, a select elite in SF are dictating things.

breezy1985 · 19-09-2025 05:47PM

Sheridan needed to get in fast before people started to ask about who this guy really is.

Oíche Na Gaoithe Móire · 19-09-2025 05:59PM

It's something that would possibly need Constitutional Change, but the longer the race goes on the more my thinking is changing.

Firstly, I don't particularly like any of the 3 candidates nominated by the parties.

I appreciate a party has the right to use the whip and ensure its members vote for their nominated candidate.

I also understand the need to have a system to filter out the dross that appears for every presidential election.

However, whether you agree with her politics or not, someone like Steen, is qualified and can articulate her views. Sheridan has credibility and might appeal to a younger demographic. The party block, if it results in only the present 3 on the ballot, will leave a lot of people disillusioned.

I wouldn't vote Steen, she's a little too extreme on some issues for me.

But the control of our political parties over who we can vote as our Uachtarain seems a little too tight this time round. I can't for the life of me get in the least excited about Connolly, Gavin or Humphreys.

My first vote was in 1997 and I voted McAleese, in 2011 MDH. I was happy voting for both that they'd be good presidents.

That's my tuppenceworth. I respect everyone's opinions and don't intend to get into a to and fro with anyone. I want to relax this evening and post a bit of light stuff on the Late Late thread!

expectationlost · 19-09-2025 06:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831967#Comment_123831967

The parties have an established voter base which isn't the case for Steen.

expectationlost · 19-09-2025 06:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831901#Comment_123831901

A few but that he only announced his campaign at the start of the September … https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/09/06/singing-ex-lord-mayor-kieran-mccarthy-joins-colourful-cast-seeking-nomination-for-presidency/

Aurelian · 19-09-2025 06:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831967#Comment_123831967

Im not disagreeing with you but I wonder if we are misunderstanding why it was setup in the first place e.g to basically be a borderline government appointed functionary who wouldn't get political and embarrass the government like the Governor General did.

If you look at it as the French system in reverse. Their President chooses a PM from the avaliable elected representatives, our elected representatives provide us with a selection of Presidential candidates to choose from.

I'm not saying it's right but maybe it wasn't setup to create this big politically popular "Presidential" President.

expectationlost · 19-09-2025 06:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831930#Comment_123831930

Are Labour the ones who have done it best?

Oíche Na Gaoithe Móire · 19-09-2025 06:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831994#Comment_123831994

I understand, but similarly I doubt Dev set it up for candidates like Gavin to be parachuted in.

The Governor General was the King's rep from the 1922 Constitution and was turned into an embarrassment as part of the dismantling of the Treaty.

If I felt there was one strong candidate among the 3, I wouldn't be arguing at all. It's just the way I feel this time round.

ForestFire · 19-09-2025 06:33PM

I presume a council can nominate more than one candidate? Or are they restricted to one nomination?

Larbre34 · 19-09-2025 06:39PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123831928#Comment_123831928

Indeed. Just bet on the opposite outcome to whatever he says, and you'll be quids in.

Homelander · 19-09-2025 06:48PM

Not going to quote the above post but I completely agree that I've come around to think there has to be another way for the process that can't just be stonewalled.

Someone suggested a minimum threshold of signatures from the public and I'd completely agree with something of that nature. Though it'd want to be a fairly high threshold, that said.

Gavin, Humphreys and Connolly for me is a case of voting for who I dislike the least as the representative of this country on the global stage.

Podge_irl · 19-09-2025 06:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123832033#Comment_123832033

They can only nominate one.

gormdubhgorm · 19-09-2025 07:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123832083#Comment_123832083

Yeah I know what you mean. I went from thinking statesman/stateswomanship, symbolism etc to “Could I put up with xyz for 7 years?” the live debates have not even started yet!

Presidential Election 2025

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