Ireland will hold a presidential election on 24 October to choose a successor to President Michael D Higgins, whose second seven-year term ends in November. Three candidates have already secured the endorsements required to appear on the ballot, while the window for nominations closes on 24 September.
Independent Catherine Connolly, Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys have each obtained the necessary backing to contest the race. Connolly has been supported by a number of smaller and left-leaning parties, Jim Gavin was selected by Fianna Fáil and Heather Humphreys is the Fine Gael nominee. Other prospective candidates, including high-profile figures who have publicly expressed interest, have until the September deadline to secure nomination either from parliamentarians or local authorities.
Catherine Connolly, a long-serving member of Dáil Éireann representing Galway West, is an independent backed by Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit. A former barrister and clinical psychologist, she served as deputy speaker of the Dáil for four years and has positioned herself as a candidate supported by left-wing parties and civic groups.
Jim Gavin, selected by Fianna Fáil — the largest party in the Oireachtas and led by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin — is best known as one of Ireland’s most successful Gaelic football managers. Gavin led the Dublin county team to six All-Ireland Senior Championship titles between 2012 and 2019. He also spent two decades in the Irish Defence Forces and works as a senior aviation regulator.
Heather Humphreys is the Fine Gael candidate. A former cabinet minister, she held portfolios including justice, rural development and the arts before stepping down from the Dáil in 2024 after 13 years in parliament. Humphreys is from County Monaghan, near the border with Northern Ireland, and is a member of a Protestant church. Mairead McGuinness, initially selected by Fine Gael, withdrew earlier in the campaign citing health reasons.
Sinn Féin, the main opposition party at the national level and the largest party across many levels of politics in Northern Ireland, has not yet announced whether it will run a candidate. Party leaders scheduled a meeting for 20 September to decide whether to endorse a nominee or back another contender. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said she will not run; the Northern Ireland First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, has not ruled out the possibility should the party field a candidate.
Other individuals have indicated an interest in running as independents. Entrepreneurs and campaigners who have previously sought public office or public attention — including Peter Casey, Maria Steen and Gareth Sheridan — have approached local councils seeking the endorsements needed to qualify for the ballot. Pop culture figures such as the musician Bob Geldof and mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor were reported to have considered bids; Geldof is understood to have decided not to pursue a nomination and commentators have described a McGregor candidacy as unlikely.
Under Irish law, any citizen aged 35 or older may seek nomination. Candidates may qualify for the ballot by securing the support of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas — the combined membership of the Dáil and Seanad — or by obtaining the endorsement of at least four of Ireland’s 31 local authorities. Councils are holding special meetings in September at which prospective candidates can make presentations to councillors.
Around 3.5 million people are eligible to vote in the presidential election. Ireland uses a system of proportional representation known as the Single Transferable Vote for presidential contests, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Counting is scheduled to begin on 25 October and could continue into the following day. The winner will serve a seven-year term, to 2032, and may run for a second and final term thereafter.
The presidency in Ireland is a largely ceremonial office but carries influence during national debates and constitutional checks. Michael D Higgins, first elected in 2011 and re-elected in 2018, has been regarded as one of the country’s most popular politicians and has used the presidency to speak on live political issues including housing shortages and foreign policy. The Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park is the official residence and workplace of the head of state, who also represents Ireland at major national events and on the international stage.
Campaigning will intensify over the weeks ahead as parties and potential independent candidates complete nomination processes and outline their platforms. The closing of the nomination window on 24 September is likely to clarify the full list of contenders and set the stage for the final phase of the race ahead of the October vote.
