Presidential Election 2025

ThThere's Also the fact that far from getting the FF vote it is common knowledge that large tracts of FF are completely pissed off with Gavin having been parachuted in to run.

A poor debate, by three fairly poor candidates, IMHO

Jim Gavin

Had some good points to make, but it was very difficult to understand him. He has no experience, or no ability at this game. He walked into a few tight spots. I think he shown through on a few minor occasions. His point on HAMAS, and referencing the PA statement last week was strong. At other times he seemed to stall completely, and lose the run of himself. If he had run as a TD years ago, and gathered some experience, this could have been totally different. He had the talking points, but demonstrated an inability to talk.

Of course, FF could have selected a seasoned politician. But they chose this man.

Heather Humphreys

A serious underperformance from someone seasoned in political experience. She had her moments in the second half. Fumbled a lot on the points relating to policing, and the Occupied territories Bill. She did well in the second half, compared to her barely being present in the first portion of the debate. I have to say, responding to the housing crisis question

Q. Is the housing crisis a disaster –

A. Well its a disaster for those who cant get houses

This was the moment i literally couldn’t help laughing – Heather ‘Obviously’ Humphreys.

Heather did not come off well in this debate. She wasn’t a strong presence, and i expected a lot more from her.

Catherine Connolly.

She made the largest contribution. I don’t agree with a lot of her foreign policy positions. A fun drinking game could have been had, were we to do a shot every time she mentioned a ‘Military Industrial Complex’. Of course we would all be quite tanked at this stage. But CC did very well, and probably made the biggest splash tonight. On social issues, CC killed it too.

She did far better than i expected, and at times she seemed to spoil the others and knock them off their stride. She was very vocal and even when i didn’t agree with her – i knew precisely where she stood.

OVERALL – CC won the debate, no doubt. We remain uncertain of what this means, until we see the polls. But she weathered the debate and emerged as the winner in my mind.

As to who came second;

Its a tossup really, I think HH didn’t make enough of an impact, and underperformed. JG had some fantastic points but his terrible delivery – so poor at times. Really i couldn’t slip a five euro note between them, and id be interested to see how people here respond.

Moderator wants accolades for asking and not letting people talk. It's a bit of a non event really, apart from a type of interrogation of Connolly who has more or less been the only one of the 3 capable of answering fully anything she has been asked. Gavin not anything near being an occupant of the Áras, Heather the poor girl needs help badly. People will have been impressed with Connolly, but the moderator made a proper cock up with his questions and non questioning of 2 candidates who needed to answer controversaries they've created themselves.

Imagine how Billy Kelleher must feel watching that

Yes absolutely - this, 100%

Really hard to see how Jim Gavin wins this election. And i cant help but feel angry that he is in this situation.

Honestly i feel annoyed, the man is a legend in Dublin, and for the GAA as a whole. This is reminiscent of the FAI, picking Steve Staunton as manager. I remember being angry, but angry at the FAI, as opposed to Staunton himself.

Jim Gavin is a great man, wonderful history in GAA - but If he wins this election, I will literally be stunned.

He would have done better than Gavin and Humphreys. Not sure about Connolly. She has managed to look presidential while the others were just on a chat show.

Yea i felt sorry for him. Ugh, he should never have been put in this situation

In terms of the election, anything is possible.

I could see Jim Gavin being the first eliminated. And his transfers decide the winner.

CC could get the largest amount of 1st prefs, but HH would probably benefit more from JGs transfers?

Thats roughly where i am at right now

That is absolutely true, but again. I just like the man. He is a legend in Dublin, and regardless of political leanings, its sad to see him perform so poorly.

I cannot help but blame FF for this. They could have had a season politician, but they decided to go down the celebrity road for presidential candidates.

Gavin was that bad if he is eliminated first with low 1st preference. It could put Martin under pressure.
I honestly didn’t think Gavin would be so poor when he initially won the nomination.

But it looks like an awful decision for Gavin and Martin now and for those in FF who backed him.

Complete fish out of water. Nothing like the Jim Gavin who used to field GAA questions with ease.

The only thing worse I can remember GAA stars going into politics- was years ago when Graham Geraghty FG - Meath and John O’Leary FF - Dublin were parachuted in to run as TD’s.

Virgin Media/TV3 decided to have the two debate each other. It was like a comedy skit.

There's a great dignity about Catherine Connolly's manner that makes her a fitting candidate.

While the other two appeared to be reciting their script (and stumbling when dragged from it) it appeared to me that Catherine would have hardly needed to prep for this. I remember thinking the same thing of Michael D.

The overwhelming takeaway was CC has a brain of her own and doesn’t require scripted answers.

Heather was Heather, no surpises at all with her non committal style. Might have her faux pas on the OTB come back to haunt her.

Gavin just terrible, coached to the level of a robot and floundered when he came off script. A poor 3rd tonight.

Steen on the ballot would have been interesting. She would have highlighted the poor quality of Humphreys and Gavin as cadidates. Both FF and FG now have a Connolly problem in that people may now be thinking of Connolly as presidential while Humphreys and Gavin are not. There is also a court case underway with a hearing on the 7th of October. FF will probably be hoping that RTE's debate will help Gavin because his campaign went pear-shaped tonight.

I felt Gavin was in huge trouble even before tonight's debate. He has been just as stiff and awkward in his other interviews and public appearances.

Could well have been a Connolly / Steen top 2 in the election if tonight was anything to go by. We already knew Steen was very articulate and an excellent debater from earlier TV appearances.