Race for the Áras: Three candidates confirmed for 2025 presidential election

Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys will contest the October 24 presidential election

The three candidates for the presidential election: Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin, and Heather Humphreys.

The nomination window for the presidential election race closed Wednesday, with three candidates confirmed on the ballot.

They are: 

• Catherine Connolly — Independent; 
• Jim Gavin — Fianna Fáil; 
• Heather Humphreys — Fine Gael.

Independent candidate Ms Connolly announced in July that she would seek a nomination and secured the support of Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, and People Before Profit.

Ms Connolly, who is currently serving her third term as an Independent TD for Galway West, is a former barrister and was elected as Leas Ceann Comhairle in 2020 — the first woman to hold the position.

Mr Gavin, a retired army pilot, is best known for leading Dublin to a historic five-in-a-row in the All-Ireland football championship. He also chairs the North-East Inner City Taskforce and serves as chief operations officer for the Irish Aviation Authority.

He defeated party MEP and former junior minister Billy Kelleher in a secret parliamentary party ballot on Tuesday, winning 41 votes to 29.

Ms Humphreys, a former social protection minister and ex-TD for Cavan–Monaghan, served as deputy leader of Fine Gael in 2024. She stepped down as a TD ahead of the 2024 general election.

Former European Commissioner and MEP Mairead McGuinness had been selected as the Fine Gael nominee but withdrew after a hospital stay.

To run, a candidate must be over 35 and receive nominations from 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities.

No candidate succeeded through the local authority route after most councils declined to nominate anyone, with councillors from major parties opposing independents.

Earlier Wednesday, conservative campaigner Maria Steen fell short of the 20 signatures required, missing the threshold by two votes.

That leaves three candidates in the race ahead of voting day on October 24.

Mr Gavin and Ms Humphreys filed their nomination papers on Friday, while Ms Connolly submitted hers on Tuesday.