Rarely has a race for the Áras seemed so uncertain or open – and who knows what could happen next?
The sudden departure of
Fine Gael
grandee
Mairead McGuinness
from this year's
presidential election
left her party colleagues in shock.
[
Mairead McGuinness drops out of presidential race due to health reasons
]
Although she had been just one of two confirmed candidates so far, the former European Commissioner and MEP had been marked out early as a likely president-in-waiting whom many believed would have relished and risen to the challenge of a robust campaign.
But she announced on Thursday she was leaving the race on health grounds.
READ MORE
At the heart of this national political story is a woman who surely expected to have written a very different final chapter to her more-than-20 years in politics and even longer in public life.
It is no secret McGuinness had been nurturing a long-held ambition to make it to Áras an Uachtaráin.
Having come undone in 2011, losing out on the Fine Gael candidacy to Gay Mitchell's doomed campaign, McGuinness' supporters were pushing the narrative that the 2025 contest would be a vindication for the popular party figure.
McGuinness, who just left hospital last week, was instead forced to concede in a huge political upset that her health meant she now did 'not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all'. This is fundamentally a sad and very human story, before it is a political one.
While trying to be as sensitive as Fine Gael can to a colleague's health concerns, the party is aware it will now have to move fast to find a new candidate for a contest that has now been blown wide open.
The party's executive council is expected to meet soon to work out what it will do next.
Although Fine Gael was perceptibly shaken on Thursday, the colder and more rational side of the party will know it still has time on its side.
Although Fine Gael has suffered the loss of a good candidate and possibly its best chance at the Áras in many years, it now just finds itself in the same net position as
Fianna Fáil
and
Sinn Féin
. Mere weeks out, all three of the main political parties do not know who they will put forward to be the next president of Ireland.
The other leveller in Fine Gael will be that it, unlike other political parties, has known options.
Nobody will be saying much publicly for now, out of respect for McGuinness. But private, primal political ambitions are something else entirely.
Party stalwarts such as
Seán Kelly
and
Frances Fitzgerald
were always understood to be interested in contesting the presidential election.
For Kelly to run, he would have to suffer the slight inelegance of walking back his comments earlier this summer about how
the presidency was a 'largely ceremonial role and you don't have that much power and influence'
.
For Fitzgerald, the presidency might seem a tempting redemptive narrative arc for a woman who always made it plain she felt she had been forced off the political stage early and unfairly.
Some well-placed figures in Fine Gael had a grá for a
Heather Humphreys
candidacy, even after the popular and charismatic former minister ruled herself out in May.
This hairpin-style turn in events has fundamentally changed the complexion of this year's presidential election. The winner of the major political prize of the next Irish presidency has never seemed less certain or the election more contestable.
This will not have escaped the notice of the more competitive elements in Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil or of maybe even some ambitious independents.
The 2025 presidential contest is now a race to be witnessed, rather than predicted. Who knows what will happen next?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Letters to the Editor, August 16th: In defence of the Angelus, SUVs, and worshipping Oasis
Sir, – I'd nearly agree with William Burke (Letters, August 14th) about the Angelus. In the multi-faith, no-faith Ireland of 2025, it would seem to be well past its sell-by date, the product of another age. A little historical context around when it was adopted by Radio Éireann may be illuminating. The year 1950 was a Roman Catholic-designated holy year, with the usual outpourings of piety. Cardinal József Mindszenty had been imprisoned in Hungary. The Korean War was in full swing and the possibility of nuclear exchanges was not discounted. A godless communism was sensed to be rampant and almost unstoppable. In Ireland, the advance of Marxism was to be countered by ostentatious popular Catholic devotion – the 1940s and 1950s saw a whole range of activities aimed at the conversion of Russia. The Pax Christi crusade of prayer was one of the most prominent – there were special devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady of Fatima – and always the ubiquitous rosary crusades. All this had led to the secretary of the then department of posts and telegraphs, during the late 1940s, discussing the idea of a daily broadcast spoken Angelus with the Catholic archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid. Charles Kelly, the director of Radio Éireann, was also consulted, but was not in favour of this proposal. READ MORE However, after further discussion they concluded that 'the introduction of speech would be a mistake and we should experiment further simply with a bell'. Archbishop McQuaid suggested that it would be appropriate to commence on the Feast of the Assumption, August 15th, 1950. And so it was done. We have had it ever since; indeed, it has expanded to include a sound and visual version on RTÉ television. While most of us probably like the comfort of some long-run familiarity in our lives (and, born in 1950, the Angelus has always been with me), on the surface it does seem out of place in Ireland 2025. But to this Anglican it is not offensive or in your face – given the florid and triumphalist nature of mid-century Irish Catholicism, the surprise is perhaps that the stark simplicity of the bell is almost Buddhist in its economy and spareness. It can mean what you want it to mean. Similarly, the television version has long moved away from a limited and limiting reference to Catholicism; many of the visuals now celebrate secular activities such as gardening and watchmaking. That gives it a contemporary relevance that is not tied to any narrow Christian denomination – or indeed to religious belief at all. It's only a couple of minutes each day. And no-one is obliged to listen to, or watch, it. Let it be. – Yours, etc, IAN D'ALTON, Naas, Co Kildare. Sir, – I found William Burke's letter suggesting the removal of the Angelus from our air waves to be sad and offensive. What a joy it is to have a minute of quiet reflection to the sound of the Angelus bells. The sound of Angelus bells from our churches also encourages us to take a few thoughtful quiet moments in this busy world. Surely this has to be worthwhile? We should defend our Angelus as it continues to be a wonderful part of our lives today. – Yours, etc, PAUL GETHINGS, Dublin. Sir, – I am writing in response to William Burke's letter where he argues that RTÉ should discontinue its broadcasts of the Angelus. I must say I don't agree. Yes, the broadcast of the Angelus has it origins in what was then (75 years ago) in effect a Roman Catholic confessional state. But no, it should not be done away with. It provides a short time for contemplation and reflection whether one is religious or not and is part of our Irish heritage. What's next – the abolition of Easter and Christmas? – Yours, etc, KP SMYTH, Glasnevin, Dublin 9. Sir, – In these unsettling times if people of all religions and none could just pause and reflect for a minute every day there might be more tolerance, understanding and less vitriol in the world. This will not solve the problems of the world, but would surely calm everybody down a bit. The prompt from RTÉ at 6pm works for me. – Yours, etc, PATRICK HOWLIN, Milltown, Dublin 14. Making a holy show Sir, – I enjoy Emer McLysaght's column. I read it regularly. Reading it today: Well, it read like an account of someone who might have been witness to a sacramental event – the appearance of St Bernadette at the Grotto at Massabielle, France, 1858 (' I'm going to Oasis both nights, tissues at the ready ,' August 12th). Or more recently, Kerry's 39th All-Ireland accomplishment. Regarding the pending Oasis concert: 'I can hardly believe that this weekend, it's happening. So, I bought two more (T-shirts) in something of a panic.' 'You'll find me (crying) in a puddle on the floor', etc, and so on. It surprises and disappoints me that anyone would have this exhausting and hysterical degree of veneration, for an entertainment that is as fleeting and, may I say, unsubstantial as pop music – Taylor Swift is one more example. Of mediocrity. Yes, Really. Can someone please tell me: what is a superstar? I have no idea. – Yours, etc, PADDY FITZPATRICK, Shandon, Cork. School holidays Sir, – It isn't the duration of school holidays that puzzles me, but the breakdown. Why do we have a short holiday in winter and a long holiday in summer? If three weeks were taken off the summer holidays and added to the winter holiday the amount of money spent on heating and lighting would decrease hugely, freeing up funds which could then be spent on more worthwhile educational endeavours. – Yours, etc, JOHN DOYLE, Cork. Gaza offensive conclusions Sir, – It is almost impossible to escape the conclusion that from the beginning of its Gaza offensive Israel's objective was not just defensive, but clearly an exercise in ethnic cleansing. This would be achieved through a three-pronged approach; a large scale and indiscriminate military operation, a blockade of food and medical supplies. and the destruction of the Gaza medical infrastructure. This strategy was implemented under the cover of seeking to eliminate Hamas, whom we were told populated a complex tunnel system, thus requiring a carpet aerial campaign of destruction. In addition, we were informed that every medical facility in Gaza housed terrorists and had to be destroyed, while Hamas was supposed to be stealing all the humanitarian aid so this was withheld and the only agency capable of distributing it was banned from doing so. That is the picture before our eyes and until the international community comes to terms with it, calls it out for what it is and puts a stop to it, this Israeli government will not change its ways. It will kill, starve and oppress until there are no more Palestinians in Gaza. – Yours, etc, LIAM MEADE, Ballyneety, Co Limerick. Policing the traffic police Sir, – The recent report on the Garda road traffic division states that some members are unproductive and disinterested in their job. Surely, they should be accountable for not doing the work they are being paid to do and not wasting taxpayers' money? I travel the M50 on a regular basis and rarely do I see one of the Garda traffic division cars. I have experienced some hairy moments with cars speeding by or overtaking erratically. Why can't we have a road traffic force that is visible. It might lead to less careless driving and maybe save lives? – Yours, etc, BARRY ROONEY, Co Wicklow. Sir, – I was going to write a letter to The Irish Times asking why so many truck drivers on our motorways don't bother putting number plates on their trailers. Now I no longer need to. – Yours, etc, HUGH GALLAGHER, Naas, Co Kildare. In praise of SUVs Sir, – While a few correspondents have made points in defence of sports utility vehicles (SUVs), nonetheless much of what has appeared recently on the Letters page would suggest that, regarding how cars drive, it's simply 'two wheels good, four wheels bad'. This is unfair, incorrect and in some cases dangerously inaccurate in the impression it conveys. It's probably fair to say initially that I drive one, largely I would argue for the reasons to do with the safety of others. This may reflect aspects of my occupation, but is surely not unique. As a doctor on call from home for various categories of emergency, being able to get in, whatever the conditions is important. For example, as hurricane Ophelia was hitting some years ago, I was called to deal with a rare and often fatal emergency called an aortic dissection. The patient recovered fully. During the 'Beast from the East' storm I drove to work picking up two colleagues en route and dropping them home afterward. The operating lists were full of people with wrist and leg fractures from falls on the snow, inevitably. Staff had to get in to deal with this. Living on a hill with a 5-10 per cent gradient and no street lights is not ideal and needing to get to work at all hours in all weathers is the simple reason I use such a vehicle. Its hybrid engine is pretty fuel efficient and road tax therefore quite low. It's a pretty unspectacular car and frankly I'd rather drive the type of sports car that might make me still seem young enough to still have a midlife crisis. But covering dark slippy roads as quickly as possible a few nights a year is a matter of serious importance to me, and many others. One might ask, to illustrate, how are the people who grit the roads supposed to get to work? I aim to minimise the degree to which I risk my safety, even if travelling during red weather warnings. The impression given that this is a particular danger to other road users is not correct. As per, for example, the Euro NCAP safety tests, the car I drive scores 70 for pedestrian safety in a crash. This is not the safest for an SUV but exceeds the measures for many perfectly ordinary cars, and is the same as a VW Polo, for example. Most cars crashes don't involve pedestrians, of course. All involve at least one vehicle and all we can control is the choice of vehicle we are in. One correspondent noted that the weight distribution pattern of SUVs is a particular risk, imparting an '11-times increased risk of rolling over in an incident' (Letters, August 11th). That may be true but one can easily search online to see what vehicles are most associated with road fatalities. It is not a list of SUVs. Not surprisingly, high performance cars tend to feature highly. The other benefits – for older people with hip or back pain, for mothers lifting buggies and car seats and so on – can also be meaningful. But for safe travel in extreme conditions, as unglamorous as they are, SUVs can be seen as life-savers. – Yours, etc, BRIAN O'BRIEN, Co Cork. Presidential elections timing Sir, –I would like to propose a practical scheduling idea for the forthcoming presidential election. Under Article 12(3) of the Constitution, the presidential election must be held no later than the date the current President's term ends, and no more than 60 days before that date. For the current term, this means the election must take place between September 12th and November 11th, 2025. In recent years, primary schools have been closed to accommodate voting: in 2023 for the local and European elections, and in 2024 for the general election. Given that we now know well in advance the precise constitutional window for the presidential election, I suggest that it be scheduled during the schools' mid-term/Halloween break – from October 27th -31st. This would minimise disruption to students, parents, and teachers, while still falling squarely within the constitutional timeframe. – Yours, etc, RICHARD JOYCE, Monkstown, Co Dublin. Sir, – Michael O'Leary for president – no baggage. – Yours, etc, PATRICK DOYLE, Rathvilly, Co Carlow . Sir, – The suggestion from Sadbh Ní Seachnasaigh that you give Michael O'Leary his own column is an excellent idea. You could call it 'Man bites everything'. – Yours, etc, GERRY SAVAGE, Co Galway. Is this a record? Sir, – Even as I recounted Pat O'Brien's lively take on the supermarket mouse (Letters, August 14th) to my neighbour over a cup of tea, we were both startled to observe an animated member of the same species canter casually across my kitchen floor. Almost immediately, my quick-thinking friend flung open the adjacent back door and the tiny creature speedily reduced the rising room temperature by cooperatively exiting the premises. His means of ingress is still under investigation. While the coincidental nature of this experience is certainly remarkable, I'm left wondering if my friend's rapid reaction to a minor crises could be termed a record response? – Yours, etc, KIERAN FLYNN, Ballinasloe, Co Galway. Sir, –It's very appropriate that the Letters page of Ireland's paper of record should record so many records. – Yours, etc, CIANA CAMPBELL, Ennis, Co Clare. Break time Sir, – It's holiday time, give yourself a break. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and visualise what the world would be like without Netanyahu, Putin and Trump. – Yours, etc, MICHAEL DUKE, Carlow.
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Kelly will 'most likely reconsider' position on presidential candidacy
MEP Seán Kelly has said he will "most likely reconsider" his possible candidacy in the presidential campaign "in light of Mairead [McGuiness'] unfortunate withdrawal". It comes after former Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald ruled herself out of running for the party in the Presidential Election. The former justice minister said her mind had not changed in the wake of Mairead McGuinness' withdrawal. She said her decision remains as it was last year. "I made the decision not to contest then, and I won't be seeking a nomination." This afternoon Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae said he would back Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys "wholeheartedly" in the presidential election. He said Ms Humphreys would be an "excellent candidate", after Ms McGuinness' shock withdrawal. Mr Healy-Rae said he would be "100% in her favour" and called Ms Humphreys a "highly capable lady". He said he believed Ms Humphreys would galvanise others outside her party and would appeal to a wider base than Fine Gael. He said there are "people up and down the country, from all parties and none" that would support Ms Humphreys. He said her "performance over the years", her policies, the "way she carried herself" and the "way she answered questions" would all work in her favour. Ms Humphreys is seen as someone who would benefit from support from outside the party. She retired from politics last year saying she wanted to spend time with her family, but it is understood the former Minister is considering her options. The former Cavan-Monaghan TD has been contacted for comment. Senior Fine Gael figures say they expect that another candidate will be nominated by the party to run in the election. Ms McGuinness said she was stepping aside due to health concerns. The Fine Gael Executive Council will meet in the next few days to discuss their plans. There is a feeling, however, that the party will nominate another person to run. One former minister said they believed Fine Gael should definitely nominate another candidate, while another said it was "likely, but not certain". Names previously associated with the job also include Seán Kelly MEP. Independent TD and presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly has said the statement from Mairead McGuinness was shocking and wished her all the best. Ms Connolly said she deliberately declared early and does not regret the decision, noting it allows for scrutiny. Tánaiste Simon Harris said yesterday that there is a great sense of shock in Fine Gael following Ms McGuinness' decision to withdraw from the presidential race on health grounds. In a statement released yesterday afternoon, Ms McGuinness said the decision was not taken lightly, and followed a stay in hospital last week. Mr Harris said Ms McGuinness is a "great colleague" and a "great friend" and is somebody who has served her party and her country with distinction. He said while Ms McGuinness had been working hard in preparation for the presidential election, her health has to come first. "It's absolutely crystal clear that on the basis of health advice, she is making the right decision," Mr Harris said. Ms McGuinness said she is taking the decision on medical advice, and it is the "right decision" for her and her family. "My priority now is my health. Given that the election is in a short couple of months, I do not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all," she said in a statement yesterday. Mr Harris said Fine Gael will convene its executive council in the days ahead and consider the next steps on any potential presidential candidate. In a statement yesterday, Fine Gael's Director of Elections for the upcoming presidential election Martin Heydon confirmed the meeting will take place in the coming days. Catherine Connolly also said that it was very early to be talking about her current favourable position. But she said the feedback on the ground was excellent and that she will be on the campaign now every week going forward. Fianna Fáil has yet to decide whether it will run a candidate while Sinn Féin is considering its options with a decision to be arrived at in a few weeks. Yesterday, businessman Gareth Sheridan launched his campaign for the Áras, and said he is confident he can be proposed and seconded by six local authorities after having secured the support of Tipperary and Laois county councils.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Heather Humphreys emerges as favourite for Fine Gael presidential nomination
Former social protection minister Heather Humphreys has emerged as a favourite for the Fine Gael presidential nomination following the shock withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness. Ms Humphreys had earlier this year said that she would not be contesting the presidency having retired from politics before last year's general election to spend more time with her family. However, the Monaghan woman could be set for a remarkable return to politics following Ms McGuinness's announcement on Thursday that she would be withdrawing from the race on medical grounds. Sources within Fine Gael said they believe "the landscape has changed" sufficiently for Ms Humphreys to consider a run if she were approached by the party's leadership. "Heather is someone who could win and I think could be convinced in the circumstances," a senior party source said. Ms Humphreys did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Ms Humphreys' candidacy was backed by one junior minister from outside her party, with independent TD Michael Healy Rae saying he would back Ms Humphreys "wholeheartedly". Quite simply because she's a very well-grounded person, what I would call a sound, solid political performer. She'd be an excellent person, both nationally and internationally, to fly the flag for Ireland. I would consider her a very safe, sound pair of hands. Ms Humphreys could face a battle for the nomination from Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly. Mr Kelly was believed to have been interested in a run when nominations opened last month, but withdrew without being nominated. It is understood that he is considering his position in light of Ms McGuinness's withdrawal. The former GAA president has been a huge vote-getter for Fine Gael in the south of the country, taking over 127,000 votes in last year's European elections. One former minister who will not be tempted to return, however, is Frances Fitzgerald. She confirmed to the Irish Examiner that she would not seek the nomination, having declined to do so earlier this year. Former minister for foreign affairs Simon Coveney is another name which has been suggested by party members, though he has not responded to speculation. The Fine Gael Executive Committee is set to meet over the weekend to decide the party's next steps. Ms McGuinness's withdrawal means that independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly stands alone as the only candidate currently with the requisite support to be on the ballot. On Friday, Ms Connolly said that she "truly" wishes Ms McGuinness the best. She said it was "premature" to speculate on how the race might be affected by the withdrawal of the former European Commissioner. While a date hasn't been set for the election, there is growing belief within government parties that it will come in late October.
