Mairead McGuiness' withdrawal leaves only one clear candidate for presidential election 

What had been an unclear picture  has now become even foggier

Catherine Connolly has secured the backing of Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, and a range of other independent politicians and at her campaign launch late last month said that she is “ready” to be president of Ireland as “part of a movement”. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

The withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness from the presidential election leaves what had been an unclear picture even foggier.

With just ten or eleven weeks to go, there is just one candidate left in the race who has the requisite support from the Oireachtas to be on the ballot. No councils have, as yet, shown a willingness to back candidates.