Kelly says he's not out of the running yet as Humphreys clocks up supporters
Both Kelly and Humphreys, a former Fine Gael minister, confirmed yesterday morning that they would campaign to win support in the party to become its nominee in the Áras race after first choice Mairéad McGuiness had to withdraw for health reasons after spending time in hospital.
Declarations of support came quickly for both contenders but especially for Humphreys, who appears to have enough backing at this point to seal the deal. However,
in comments to The Echo
yesterday evening, Kelly said he will 'keep working' on it.
Fine Gael reopened nominations this week for its candidate for the presidency after McGuinness' withdrawal last Thursday.
Advertisement
A potential candidate will need to be nominated by 20 members of Fine Gael's parliamentary party.
Humphrey's has at least 38 members in her corner as of right now, appearing to leave little path for Kelly to reach the threshold.
Speaking to The Echo yesterday evening, Kelly said: 'Do you know, I'd take that with a grain of salt at this stage,'
'People can be quoted for saying things but you never know. We only started today, so we'll keep working on it.'
Contest
Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland yesterday morning, Kelly said that Fine Gael members 'would like to have a contest'.
'We haven't had a contest for a long time now – we didn't have a contest for the last presidential election seven years ago, and we didn't have a contest of the leadership. We also did not have a contest when Mairéad got the nomination,' he said.
Related Reads
Heather Humphreys leading Seán Kelly in bid for Fine Gael nomination for presidency
'So I think people would like to have a contest. A contest is good for parties, it's good for democracies,' Kelly said.
Separately, during her campaign announcement on Cavan-Monaghan radio station Northern Sound, Humphreys also welcomed Kelly's bid yesterday, saying she had 'no issue with a contest'.
'I know Sean to be a gentleman. I really want to wish him the best of luck,' she said.
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Sinn Féin to announce intentions around presidential election nomination next week
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is expected to announce her party's intentions around the presidency in the next week, with those who support Catherine Connolly 'anxiously' awaiting their decision. The party held an internal member consultation earlier this summer, with Mary Lou McDonald saying in July that all options including her own candidacy were on the table. Within the party, there is an expectation that an announcement will come some time next week, with some saying that the mood on Ms McDonald putting herself forward had shifted over the summer. One senior party source said that they would not have countenanced such a move at the beginning of the summer, but said their outlook was now "50/50". Should the party not run a candidate, it will back Galway West independent Catherine Connolly. Ms Connolly has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a range of other independents. Speaking on Thursday, People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said Ms Connolly is the 'best-positioned progressive left candidate' to stop Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil from having their candidate win the race to the Áras. We think she has a real prospect of winning, Fundamentally, this election is going to be about which direction we want the country to go in. 'Do we want the Government to get away with abandoning all that is left of neutrality and ripping up the triple lock? Or do we want to defend neutrality in the triple lock? 'Do we want to have a Government which says some correct things in relation to Palestine, but then continues with complicity in terms of the Central Bank authorisation of the bonds, in terms of trying to water down the Occupied Territories Bill, in terms of the overflights that continue to happen? 'Do we want a Government that is very consciously seeking to accelerate the rise of rents, or a Government that puts the interests of renters, of homeless people, people who are trying to buy a house first? "It's about which direction the country is going in.' The comments come as Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin comes under pressure internally to name his party's candidate. Earlier this week, Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher called for a meeting urgently to discuss the forthcoming presidential election. Mr Martin has said he intends to update the party on its position towards the presidential election at the end of August, shooting down Mr Kelleher's suggestion. Several former Fianna Fáil politicians have expressed an interest in running for the party, including former ministers Mary Hanafin and Eamon Ó Cuiv. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has regularly been mentioned as a possible candidate, but has yet to declare an interest. One Fianna Fáil TD has, however, called for Mr Martin to run. Peter "Chap" Cleere told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that the Taoiseach would be "an excellent" president. The overwhelming majority of people that I speak to are saying that the man who should be our presidential candidate is our leader Micheál Martin. "My personal view is that Micheál [Martin] should put himself forward to be a presidential candidate. I know he'd have a phenomenal backing of the parliamentary party," he added. Mr Martin has, however, repeatedly ruled himself out of a run, saying that he is committed to his term as Taoiseach.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
FF TD urges Micheal Martin to run for president - 'He'd have phenomenal backing'
A newly-elected Fianna Fáil TD has publicly urged his party leader, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, to run for the Áras. Carlow-Kilkenny TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere said the leader would have 'phenomenal backing' from the parliamentary party. Last month, the Taoiseach said he would 'definitely not' enter the race. However, pressure is building on the leader from within the party to outline plans. MEPs Billy Kelleher and Barry Andrews have called for an urgent meeting of the parliamentary party to discuss the election. Mr Cleere said: 'The overwhelming majority of people that I speak to are saying that the man who should be our presidential candidate is our leader Micheál Martin. My personal view is that Micheál should put himself forward to be a presidential candidate. "I know he'd have a phenomenal backing of the parliamentary party. I'd love to see (him) put himself forward." The Taoiseach, however, has consistently ruled out entering the presidential race. Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland last month, he said: 'I was elected. I wanted to lead Fianna Fáil into government. "I have that obligation to the public. No disrespect to the presidency, but I gave commitments to the people that I will serve for the next five years and that's what I'm going to." This comes as People Before Profit, who are backing Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, are urging Sinn Féin to get behind her also. Deputy Paul Murphy said: 'I think this is a big opportunity for the left as a whole, including Sinn Féin, to get behind someone who is an independent, to show that we can work together in that way." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
The Journal
9 hours ago
- The Journal
Catherine Connolly supporters 'anxiously' waiting to see if Sinn Féin will back her Áras bid
OPPOSITION PARTIES WHO endorse presidential candidate Catherine Connolly are 'anxiously' awaiting the outcome of Sinn Féin's decision on whether to field their own candidate or back the Independent. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said Connolly is the 'best-positioned progressive left candidate' to stop Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil from having their candidate win the race to the Áras. Sinn Féin has yet to make a decision on whether it will back Connolly as part of a united left coalition. Murphy said having Sinn Féin's support would be a 'big opportunity' for the left. 'We think she has a real prospect of winning, Fundamentally, this election is going to be about which direction we want the country to go in,' he said. 'Do we want the Government to get away with abandoning all that is left of neutrality and ripping up the triple lock? Or do we want to defend neutrality in the triple lock? 'Do we want to have a Government which says some correct things in relation to Palestine, but then continues with complicity in terms of the Central Bank authorisation of the bonds, in terms of trying to water down the Occupied Territories Bill, in terms of the overflights that continue to happen? 'Do we want a Government that is very consciously seeking to accelerate the rise of rents, or a Government that puts the interests of renters, of homeless people, people who are trying to buy a house first? It's about which direction the country is going in.' The Dublin South West TD said it looks likely that the presidential race is going to be a 'straight fight' between the Galway West TD and 'representatives of the political establishment'. It's very positive that other parties of the left have also come together. We're obviously anxiously awaiting the outcome of Sinn Féin's deliberations. Advertisement 'There are certainly lots of grassroot Sinn Fein members who are very supportive of Catherine Connolly and, of course, we respect Sinn Fein's own internal processes, but we're certainly hoping that they make the decision to support Catherine Connolly. We think that will be a real boost.' Murphy added that while Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald would be a 'very credible candidate', he believes that Connolly is the 'best-positioned progressive left candidate' who has the best chance of stopping Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael. Connolly has the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a range of other independents. Two hopefuls have announced their intention to seek Fine Gael's nomination for president. Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly and former party deputy leader Heather Humphreys announced their intention to seek nomination earlier this week, with the former Cavan-Monaghan TD currently holding a commanding lead over the former GAA president. Fianna Fáil has been staying schtum on who it might put forward as its candidate, with one MEP this week calling on the party to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the election ahead of its think-in in September. Nutriband entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan and Riverdance star Michael Flatley are among other hopefuls seeking a nomination. The election is expected towards the end of October as it must take place in the 60 days before the term of President Michael D Higgins ends on 11 November. To be eligible to run, a candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older, and they must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or by at least four local authorities. Former or retiring presidents can nominate themselves. With reporting from Press Association Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
