Presidential hopefuls expect at least three non-party candidates to contest election

Also, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan has said he opted to back Jim Gavin to be the Fianna Fáil presidential nominee as he believed he would have a better chance of winning the election than Cork MEP Billy Kelleher

It is understood that former RTÉ meteorologist Joanna Donnelly was not on the list of presidential candidates expected to present to Kerry County Council next Monday. File photo: Moya Nolan

Independent presidential hopefuls believe that three or four non-party candidates could end up on the ballot paper.

Councils will start to hear from independent candidates on Monday with as many as 15 expected to present to some local authorities.