The Presidential Election 2025

[deeahgwitch]

Your thoughts.
i’m in the ABB camp.
I accept he did a great job re The Good Friday Agreement but his government pre the economic crash !!!🙄🥲

I think most people would prefer the Triple Lock to go to Referendum.
Gavin backing it rules him out for me. I was surprised he announced his position in it so early as I don't think it's the vote winner he thinks it is.

I really don't want to vote Humphreys,not because I don't like her,, I have no real opinion on her,but I don't like the way FG have tried to block Independent candidates.
That leaves Connolly. I like Connolly,as I believe she is generally sincere. But,as she has the backing of the SD'S and PBP, I assume she is of similar views on gender.
I really don't want any of them as President.
Bring on Liam and Pamela 😁.

That is where I am at the moment.

It is depressing.

This feels like hold your nose and pick the one that can/will do least amount of damage.

@DublinFemale - what a depressingly succinct way of phrasing it, hold your nose and pick one.

I thought JG would be a flyer, but agree rhe triple lock is a serious issue and folk will feel strongly.

Agree @Onehorsetown the FG stifling of independent candidates can't be rewarded. Also, HH, by her own admission, couldn't face a 5 year Dáil, but is ok for 7yrs at the Áras?

Liam and Pamela looking strong contenders 😂 (Except Simon Harris would block them cos he's feart of any competition)

Could we set up a petition to make Liam run,

what about a novena?

light a few candles, have a mass said.

Gosh I set a hare running there, didn't I?😁

Re HH not being up for a 5 year Dáil, but OK with 7 years in the Áras - in fairness, being President is a lot less stressful than being a TD or a Minister, there's a lot of ceremonial stuff, shaking hands, making speeches, planting trees... and while there is public scrutiny, it's probably a lot less than the scrutiny, that TDs and Ministers get - 'scrutiny' that sometimes takes the form of death threats.

Liam could handle it all no problem😄

I am not inspired by any of them but I will probably vote for Heather, I think she would be best at the job out of the current three.

I can't warm to JG, although I am sure he will get a lot of the male and GAA vote so he seems to be the favourite.

@EmmaRose89 yes I'd prefer Heather to Jim tbh. His candidacy has a whiff of Roy Keane about it. Great footballer and what a wit he is on the telly ! Or Boris Johnson...oh he's a ticket isn't he 😂. Look how that went.

Besides Jim wants to scrap neutrality. Not that the Pres has that power. But it sets the mood music. Don't know much about Heather. I recall her learning Irish when she was in Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Whereas eg Bertie never bothered.

Catherine , great speaker and is on the side of the less well off. Gaelgeoir , looks like everyone's nanny. All good. But. She is a bit naive on the trans issue and it could capsize her project.

I didn't warm to Catherine on the Brendan O'Connor show. She seemed a little affronted that she was being asked about her Syrian trip. I didn't know she nominated Gemma O'Doherty in 2018 either. That makes me uncomfortable as well as the fact that PBP support her. She seems to have very little discretion. Peadar Toibin is throwing his weight behind Maria Steen. Fingal CC have decided not to nominate anyone.

I know socialists who supported Gemma O D . She was all anti corruption. Then she went loolah. Caught us all offside....

I know where you are coming from @Abhannmor
Wasn’t Gemma at one time investigating the death of Mary Boyle, one of Ireland’s youngest missing persons. She did a documentary on it.
There were a lot of questions that needed answering- was there political interference??
I admired her for that.

Yeah she did, with support of Ann Boyle (Mary’s sister) and Margo (I think that’s the name) O’Donnell. Isn’t she related to Daniel O’Donnell?

It raised more questions that it answered, and still to this day, a lot of things do not make sense.

Ok if Liam isn’t on board what about Daniel O’Donnell?

He could greet dignitaries with a song, could provide free entertainment for the state banquets.

Majella would be a good first lady and they could president over tea. But I would probably give Liam my first preference.

I didn't know much about her. I knew she was a journalist, I do remember the Mary Boyle documentary. But I wonder which came first, her interest in pursuing justice for Mary Boyle or her belief in conspiracy theories. Just musing really. I suppose we have all been surprised and sometimes disappointed by the actions of public figures we supported. Certainly I have! I think that's why I'm so uncertain about this election.

the unfortunate part is due to actions of FF & FG, he is able to tout the story it’s rigged to block independent runners.

https://www.rte.ie/news/presidential-election/2025/0915/1533497-presidential-race-ireland/

I would have loved Bob Geldof as president! Can't see any independent people getting in now though. I'm not impressed with any of the line up so far.

He is well able to talk of course. But how do you reconcile being a Head of one State and a subject of the head of another - complete with Knighthood?

Hmm, good question. Maybe he'd have to hand back his knighthood if he really wanted to run for presidency. He is still an Irish citizen at least. Looks like the prospect is off the table anyway as I haven't heard any more about it.

Nah, he'd just tout that story, or some other story, regardless! He doesn't need facts, does he?
The less 'oxygen of publicity' he gets, the better, as he'll just use the limelight to make himself out to be the eternal victim 🙄

Bob Geldof was very quick about handing back the freedom of the City in protest Aung San Suu KyiA while keeping the knighthood.

He placed more importance on his knighthood to me.

Nope, he showed his what little he thinks of Irish people and I believe him.

Joe Brolly might cause some excitement...
President Brolly sounds a bit silly though.

Not Bob. Plastic punk. He likes the establishment too much to ever seriously rebel.

I see Maria Steen is gathering the TD nominations. She might just make it, but I hope she doesn't win.
Tomorrow will be interesting, looking forward to Sinn Feins announcement tomorrow

3 horse race and the only options are politically backed options.

https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/09/20/presidential-election-sinn-fein-says-it-will-support-catherine-connolly/

They don't inspire me. None of them.