Everything we know about the presidential election so far - and a few things we don't
In recent weeks, a number of candidates and political parties have declared their intentions and this week we had the shock news that front runner Mairead McGuinness was
withdrawing from the race on health advice.
That decision has blown the race wide open and raises questions about who Fine Gael will chose as her replacement and whether it will impact the approach taken by Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has begun gearing up its efforts to
encourage people to get out and vote.
So from who's in the running, to the polling date, and the finer print and election rules, here is everything we know about the 2025 race for the Áras so far.
First things first, when will it be held?
Under the Constitution, the presidential election has to take place by the date the current President's term of office ends and may not take place more than 60 days before the end of the current term.
This means it must take place on or up to 60 days before 11 November 2025.
The new president will then take office on 12 November 2025.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O'Brien holds the responsibility of issuing the 'presidential election order' which will set the date for polling to take place.
So who is officially in the race so far?
To run in the presidential election a candidate has three possible routes.
They must receive 20 nominees from Oireachtas members (senators or TDs); receive the backing of four local authorities; or be a former or retiring president (who can nominate themselves if they have only served one term).
And remember, to be eligible a candidate must be aged 35 or older and must be a citizen of Ireland.
Former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness had secured the backing of her parliamentary party Fine Gael and was due to be ratified by her party in September.
Following the shock news of her withdrawl, Fine Gael has said its executive council will convene on Sunday to consider its next steps. As of right now, Frances Fitzgerald, Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly are the names
at the top of the list to take McGuinness's place.
For now though, Independent TD Catherine Connolly is the only candidate officially in the race.
In mid-July, Connolly
confirmed that she had reached
the 20 Oireachtas nominations needed to launch a campaign. So far she has the support of the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a handful of Independents.
Who else has declared their candidacy?
A number of other candidates have said they are running for president but have not yet secured a nomination.
Millionaire pharma boss Gareth Sheridan this week launched his campaign, with glossy social media videos and a
headline grabbing press conference
in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel.
Other than Sheridan, former presidential candidate and Dragon's Den star Peter Casey has said he intends to run again and hopes to gain the support of four local authorities.
Nick Delehanty, a candidate in last year's local election and general election candidate has also declared that he is running, but like Casey has not yet held an official campaign launch or any press conferences.
Voters in Dublin may remember Delehanty's 'Make Crime Illegal' signs dotted around the capital during both campaigns.
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The 35-year-old has so far raised over €25,000 via GoFundMe for his campaign, but wether he, Sheridan or Casey can receive the support of four councils remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor has also repeatedly said he is running to be president of Ireland.
On the same day that he
lost his appeal against the civil jury finding
that he raped Nikita Hand, McGregor launched a petiton to change how the nomination process for the presidential election works.
It is extremely unlikely that he will build the support required to secure a nomination.
Other names reported to be considering a run are former Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan and Riverdance star Michael Flatley.
How does the Council route work again?
To secure a nomination via the Council route, a candidate must get the backing of four of Ireland's 31 local authorities.
It is at the discretion of each local authority to decide whether they wish to put forward a nomination and each councillor may only nominate one person.
Usually council's hold hearings to allow candidates to make their pitches, these tend to be open to the public, but in the past some councils have chosen to hold them privately.
Some councils have also opted not to hold hearings or nominate any candidate at all.
This generally happens when a council is made up of a majority of councillors whose parties have already decided to back a candidate.
So given that Fine Gael will be running its own candidate and Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit are backing Catherine Connolly the likelihood that the councillors of these parties will nominate an outsider is unlikely.
For example, a motion is set to go before Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in Dublin next month proposing that the council does not to exercise its power to nominate a candidate.
Other councils contacted by
The Journal
have said they will make a decision on when to hold hearings after the election has formally been called.
What about the other parties?
All eyes remain on Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin to see what approach they will take for this election.
Sinn Féin is still signaling that it may throw its support behind Catherine Connolly, but in recent weeks party leader Mary Lou McDonald has
refused to rule out running herself
, leaving the door open that they might still run their own candidate.
The party is set to announce its decision at the end of August.
Fianna Fáil is also keeping coy on its approach.
The party hasn't fielded a presidential candidate since Mary McAleese in 1997, but given its success in last year's general election there is a widespread view in the party that it should run a candidate this year.
Sources in the party have expressed frustration that no decision has been communicated yet by party leaderships.
One TD told
The Journal
that there has to be 'at least some pretence of engagement with the parliamentary party'.
It's understood the party leadership is set to decide on its approach by the end of August.
Elsewhere, the Green Party is currently consulting with its members about who it should support. This follows a meeting between party leadership and Catherine Connolly two weeks ago.
Aontú and Independent Ireland are also keeping their cards close to their chests for now.
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