21-07-2025
'I haven't made up my mind': Éamon Ó Cuiv yet to decide on run for presidency
Former Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuiv is the latest name to be touted as a possible Fianna Fáil presidential candidate with the former Galway West TD saying he is waiting for the party to confirm it is running a candidate.
Mr Ó Cuiv said he hadn't 'made up his mind' on a run, but indicated he would be interested in the role.
He said there needs to be two decisions by Fianna Fáil ahead of his confirmation, one of which is whether or not the party would run a candidate.
The second block is whether there would be a candidate selected by the party's leadership or if there would be an open contest.
'Until the process is clear, I haven't made up my mind. It's a way down the road,' Mr Ó Cuiv said.
Mr Ó Cuiv, who stood down at the last general election, is the grandson of former Taoiseach, President and Fianna Fáil founder Eamon de Valera. He said grassroots members from across the country have approached him asking him to run.
Mr Ó Cuiv said the election itself is 'very unpredictable' and it is hard to get a fix on support levels for the current frontrunners, as the field is not yet complete.
At present, the only two candidates confirmed to be running are Fine Gael's Mairead McGuinness and independent TD Catherine Connolly.
It comes amid speculation that former chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, could be considering a tilt at the presidency and that Fianna Fáil could be interested.
One Fianna Fáil TD said the party would be 'mad' to consider running Mr Holohan, while another said there was 'too much baggage' around the former chief medical officer following the covid-19 pandemic.
Party sources have said they believe any candidate run by the party must be of high calibre, warning against running a candidate who would only act as 'a sweeper' for Ms McGuinness.
Fianna Fáil TDs have said there is not a lot of excitement around some names suggested to be the Fianna Fáil candidate, including Mr Holohan and Derry-based academic Deirdre Heenan – who was suggested on Monday as a possible contender for the party.
Catherine Connolly has already secured the 20 Oireachtas votes to get on the ballot paper. File photo: Sasko Lazarov / ©
Meanwhile, it is understood the Green Party is seeking to meet with Ms Connolly later this week, ahead of any decision to back the independent candidate.
While Ms Connolly has already secured the 20 Oireachtas votes to get on the ballot paper, if she secures the Green Party support it would be a third party – alongside the Social Democrats and People Before Profit – to back her campaign.
A final decision on whether to back Ms Connolly would come down to a decision by the Green Party's national executive, it is understood.
Over the weekend, Lord of the Dance and Riverdance star Michael Flatley said he was 'seriously considering' running in the upcoming election.
However, former Labour leader Pat Rabbitte confirmed he is not interested in running for the presidency, saying his comments over the weekend should not have been taken seriously.
