Billy Kelleher faces battle for Fianna Fáil nomination

Some party sources feel the momentum is in favour of Jim Gavin — but others say those who wish to vote against Micheál Martin's pick may be slower to make their intentions known

Potential presidential candidates Billy Kelleher MEP, who is seeking the Fianna Fáil nomination, and Gareth Sheridan, at the Kennedy Summer School in New Ross, Co Wexford. Picture: Mary Browne

Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher faces a battle for the Fianna Fáil presidential nomination, with party sources saying momentum is with former Dublin gaelic football boss Jim Gavin.

Mr Gavin entered the race officially on Saturday and saw Taoiseach Micheál Martin and all but one of the Fianna Fáil cabinet contingent — justice minister Jim O’Callaghan — announce they are backing him.

Mr Gavin has received public backing from 15 members of the parliamentary party, shy of half the required 36, but sources say they feel the momentum is in his favour ahead of a meeting of TDs, senators, and MEPs in the coming days. One TD said: 

It’s hard to see how Micheál would back him if he doesn’t have the numbers. 

However, others cautioned that those who might vote against Mr Gavin would be slower to make their intentions known. 

Sources predict some of their party colleagues will be resistant to voting for someone from outside the party ahead of Mr Kelleher, who has been a member of the parliamentary party since 1993.

Some within Fianna Fáil believe Mr Kelleher had received support from over 20 members of the parliamentary party last week, before Mr Gavin’s announcement.

They will not face a challenge from former minister Mary Hanafin, who ruled herself out yesterday, telling RTÉ radio she had not received any response from Mr Martin since making her desire to be nominated known.

“I could see that I wasn’t getting favourable comment in the newspaper, but I was on a flight back from my holidays last Monday morning and soon as I landed, I opened it up and I saw Jim Gavin. I said ‘That’s it’.”