The state of play in the Irish presidential election

‘United left’: Catherine Connolly TD

Dubbed the ‘united left candidate’, Independent Galway West TD Catherine Connolly has received the support of the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and numerous Independent Oireachtas members. She was elected to the Dáil in 2016 and served as Leas Ceann Comhairle in the 33rd Dáil.

Launching her campaign in June 2025, Connolly said she is part of a movement “looking for something different in our country”. She added: “It is a movement that says we cannot stand idly by and tolerate genocide as we look on in Gaza, or look at the normalisation of war, the normalisation of homelessness.”

Connolly called Israel a “genocidal state” during a debate in Dáil in July 2025 and accused the Government of “waiting for the morally corrupt EU take action” on Israel in May 2025. This claim was strongly contested by Tánaiste Simon Harris TD.

Connolly’s trip to Syria in June 2018 with then-TDs Mick Wallace, Clare Daly, and Maureen O’Sullivan – while the country was under the now collapsed dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad – will be scrutinised. Addressing this during a press conference in July 2025, she said: “On no occasion had I anything to do with the [Syrian] government, nor did I ever utter one word of support for Assad.”

The group, including Connolly, was pictured with pro-Assad commentator Fares Al-Shehabi – then an Independent MP – during the trip. The EU had imposed sanctions on Al-Shehabi for supporting Assad. A spokesperson for Connolly said meeting Al-Shehabi was “not an endorsement”, adding that she “was not entirely aware of who he was”, The Journal reported in July 2025.

Fine Gael

Former Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness was nominated by the party in July 2025 but dropped out in August 2025 on medical grounds. “This decision is not lightly taken and follows a stay in hospital last week,” said McGuinness in a press release.

The Fine Gael executive council reopened nominations for the candidacy following McGuinness’ announcement. Former TD Heather Humphreys and MEP Seán Kelly are currently seeking the Fine Gael nomination.

Humphreys, a TD between 2011 and 2024, is highly likely to earn the nomination having received the backing of 38 parliamentary colleagues at the time of writing. Those backing the former Minister for Social Protection include Ministers Peter Burke TD, Helen McEntee TD, and Patrick O’Donovan TD. Candidates need nominations from 20 parliamentary party members (TDs, Senators, and MEPs), 25 councillors, and five members of the executive council to be nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.

Kelly has the backing of six Fine Gael parliamentary party members. If this support for Humphreys translates into nominations, it is highly unlikely Kelly will be nominated. However, the former GAA president has refused to rule himself out of the contest. Speaking to the Echo on 19 August he said: “Do you know, I would take that with a grain of salt at this stage. People can be quoted for saying things, but you never know.”

Humphreys, who served as a TD between 2011 and 2024, did not contest the 2024 general election, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. This was the same reason she gave when ruling out a tilt at the Áras in May 2025. Speaking to Northern Sound radio after announcing her intention to run said: “I have never felt as good about taking on a challenge.”

Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin is currently divided on nominating its own candidate or backing another.

In August 2025, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald TD conceded that there are “mixed views across the party”, regarding Sinn Féin’s strategy. However, she bizarrely claimed that a Sinn Féin candidate would not divide the left-wing vote, saying “transfers decide those elections”.

Sinn Féin are searching for a win after the disappointment of the 2024 general election when the party failed to maintain the momentum it created in the 2020 election when the party gained 14 additional seats. Gains for the Labour Party and the Social Democrats in the most recent election suggest that left-wing voters are splintering.

McDonald has been indecisive on whether she will run or not. She ruled herself out of the running in March 2025, saying “it will not be me. I want Sinn Féin to be in government in Dublin”. In July 2025, McDonald refused the rule out the possibility of her running. The Dublin Central TD suggested that Sinn Féin would “have a clearer picture” of their approach between late-July and early-August, however this timetable was not kept. It is now being report that Sinn Féin will decide in September. First Minister of the northern Executive, and Sinn Féin vice president, Michelle O’Neill MLA has also not ruled herself out of the race.

Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil has not yet decided on whether it will nominate a candidate or not. The last time the party contested the election was 1997, when Mary McAleese was elected. Party leader Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD has ruled himself out of the running, but many others have clamoured for nomination.

Foyle MP and former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was mooted as a potential Fianna Fáil candidate when he announced his intention to run in June 2025. However, Martin said he was “surprised” by Eastwood’s announcement, adding: “Colum’s a very capable, effective parliamentarian. But we will make our choice as a party and we have not concluded deliberations, at all.”

Former Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Education Mary Hanafin has also publicly announced her ambition to be nominated by the party. However, the Taoiseach has thrown cold water on this. Hanafin lost her Dáil seat in 2011 and unsuccessfully contested both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has also been touted as a possible nominee having rejoined the party in 2023 after leaving in 2012 following the Mahon Tribunal. The tribunal found he did not truthfully account for payments of £165,000 made to accounts connected to him. Despite Ahern’s political pedigree and popularity within Fianna Fáil, the Mahon Tribunal may prove too big an opportunity for his competitors for him to enter the Áras.

MEPs Billy Kelleher and Barry Andrews wrote to the chair of the Fianna Fáil’s Parliamentary Party in August 2025 to request an urgent meeting to discuss the election. Chair Brendan Smith TD said it would likely be mid-September before Fianna Fáil senators, MEPs, and TDs meet in person for their party think-in in Cork. Kelleher said “this is too late in the day” to discuss selecting a candidate.