Presidential Election 2025 - Irish Examiner

Sign in

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2025

<p>Irish presidential candidates Catherine Connolly, and Heather Humphreys prior to the start of the first presidential debate on 'The Tonight Show', at Virgin Media Television Studios in Dublin, on Sunday, October 12. Picture: Niall Carson/PA</p>

comment-analysis

Constant stream of presidential debates beginning to feel like 'Groundhog Day'

Last year's general election saw just two broadcast debates. The presidential election has already seen five debates, and there's over a week to go, writes Paul Hosford.

<p>Presidential candidates Heather Humphreys, left, made the comments about Paul Murphy during a debate with Catherine Connolly.</p>

news

Heather Humphreys stands over comments about Paul Murphy despite threat of legal action

<p>Speaking during Newstalk's presidential debate on Tuesday, Ms Humphreys said the letter had not been passed on by her, but by a staff member, and contained no endorsement or suggestions.</p>

politics

Heather Humphreys again denies political interference in animal cruelty case

Family of Shane O'Farrell reject that Heather Humpreys did 'all she could' to advocate for him

politics

Family of Shane O'Farrell reject that Heather Humpreys did 'all she could' to advocate for him

Irish presidential election

comment-analysis

Fine Gael eyes centre-left as accusations of smear campaign gather momentum

Paul Murphy threatens legal action over Heather Humphreys' 'grossly defamatory' remarks

politics

Paul Murphy threatens legal action over Heather Humphreys' 'grossly defamatory' remarks

Election 2025: RESULTS

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2025 RESULTS HUB HERE

Election 2025: More

Paul Murphy threatens legal action over Heather Humphreys' 'grossly defamatory' remarks

Paul Murphy threatens legal action over Heather Humphreys' 'grossly defamatory' remarks

The People Before Profit TD has formally sent a legal letter to the presidential candidate

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Catherine Connolly accuses Fine Gael of 'engendering a negative campaign'

Catherine Connolly accuses Fine Gael of 'engendering a negative campaign'

Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys over the weekend distanced herself from the party's former minister Ivan Yates, following comments he made on a podcast

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Heather Humphreys sticks with her portrayal of Catherine Connolly as a far-left politician

Heather Humphreys sticks with her portrayal of Catherine Connolly as a far-left politician

This led to Ms Connolly accusing the Fine Gael candidate of using 'the politics of fear' and 'the politics of smear'

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Let's stop putting employment barriers in front of people with criminal convictions

Let's stop putting employment barriers in front of people with criminal convictions

Understanding Garda vetting — what it is and what it isn't — is one of the first steps we must take towards rehabilitating those of us who have made mistakes

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Catherine Connolly accuses Heather Humphreys of using 'politics of fear' in heated debate

Ms Humphreys cited Ms Connolly’s alignment with former MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace.

Sun, 12 Oct, 2025

Running for president in Ireland? Prepare to have your past — and your sanity — tested

Running for president in Ireland? Prepare to have your past — and your sanity — tested

Running for the presidency can turn from an honour into an ordeal, where every past misstep is exhumed and magnified beyond recognition

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Fianna Fáil’s campaign chaos exposed the cracks long hidden in Micheál Martin’s leadership

Jim Gavin’s abrupt exit from the presidential race has left Fianna Fáil reeling — and Micheál Martin’s leadership looking shakier than ever

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Theresa Reidy: Three reasons for the brutality of presidential elections

are tests of human endurance and discipline. Uniquely in the Irish electoral landscape, candidates are subjected to the most intense and invasive scrutiny of every aspect of their lives. There are three reasons for this.

Sat, 11 Oct, 2025

Joe Brolly attends the game 17/3/2024

Heather Humphreys hits out at Joe Brolly's 'misogynistic' gesture

'I will stand up for mná na hÉireann against that type of intimidation,' candidate says as podcaster apologises for 'childish, crude, and inappropriate gesture'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Jim Gavin repays €3,300 owed to tenant

Jim Gavin repays €3,300 owed to tenant

A source close to the former tenant, Niall Donald, confirmed Mr Gavin had repaid him the €3,300

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly on hopes, fears, and daily routines

Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly on hopes, fears, and daily routines

Getting to know more about our two presidential candidates with questions about everything from morning routines and earliest memories to biggest fears

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Watch: Micheál Martin speaks about presidential election candidates during visit to Millstreet

Watch: Micheál Martin speaks about presidential election candidates during visit to Millstreet

Taoiseach responds to media questions about his views on the remaining candidates during his visit to the 43rd National Dairy Show

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

FIANNA FAIL REPUBLICAN PARTY SIGN

Fianna Fáil cancels draw to fund Jim Gavin's presidential campaign

All contributions to the national draw, which was slated to take place on October 29, will be refunded, a party spokesperson has told the 'Irish Examiner'

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Technically, Jim Gavin could still win this election

It's an unforeseen situation to have a candidate who has withdrawn on the ballot paper — what happens to the votes and the preferences — and can it be challenged?

Fri, 10 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Pressure on presidential candidates to redraw focus on campaign

Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys will continue to pound the pavements for the next fortnight

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

The Mick Clifford Podcast: A week and a half — Budget blues and Gavin gone

The Mick Clifford Podcast: A week and a half — Budget blues and Gavin gone

Paul Hosford joins Mick to unpack Jim Gavin’s sudden exit from the presidential race and the fallout from Budget 2026

Listen | Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Father helping son with his homework

Bernard O'Shea: Five things the President of Ireland can do that parents have to do all the time

The Irish President has surprising constitutional powers — but most of them look suspiciously like everyday parenting duties

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Catherine Connolly clarifies she would not hire someone on the sex offenders list

It followed Ms Connolly's comments during a Newstalk interview saying she would have to 'reflect' when asked if she would hire a rapist to Áras an Uachtaráin

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Fianna Fail president

‘Devastated’ Micheál Martin apologises to Fianna Fáil for Jim Gavin fiasco as party orders review

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says he is 'devastated' by the collapse of Jim Gavin’s campaign as Fianna Fáil launches internal review

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Paul Hosford: Micheál Martin has been damaged, but he has a lot more fight left in him

Paul Hosford: Micheál Martin has been damaged, but he has a lot more fight left in him

After the Jim Gavin debacle, Micheál Martin faces anger within Fianna Fáil — but his instinct for survival endures

Thu, 09 Oct, 2025

Virus Outbreak Germany

Heather Humphreys campaign team uploads new video of Belfast trip after 'mistake'

Original video used a clip of the Bundestag in Berlin, with a German flag visible flying above, instead of Belfast City Hall

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Taoiseach: 'I’m not responsible for everything that unfolded' around Jim Gavin’s exit

Taoiseach: 'I’m not responsible for everything that unfolded' around Jim Gavin’s exit

Mr Gavin withdrew from the presidential campaign on Sunday evening after he failed to address questions surrounding €3,300 he did not repay to a former tenant

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Virus Outbreak Germany

'Mistake' made as Humphreys deletes video with German parliament building

On Wednesday, Ms Humphreys campaign uploaded a video of the visit, but in place of footage of Belfast City Hall, the video used a clip of the Bundestag in Berlin, with a German flag visible flying above

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Mick Clifford: Was it hubris that led Micheál Martin to dismiss Jim Gavin’s deficits?

Mick Clifford: Was it hubris that led Micheál Martin to dismiss Jim Gavin’s deficits?

While it appears unlikely that someone will emerge to take on a damaged Mr Martin, his departure will no longer be on his own terms

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Fianna Fail president

Irish Examiner view: Jim Gavin crisis overshadows Budget 2026

Fianna Fáil TDs, including some in Taoiseach Micheál Martin's Cork base, criticise party's presidential election fiasco

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Jim Gavin tenant row shows a generational divide

The substance of the allegations against Jim Gavin deserve scrutiny because this issue is familiar to so many people

Wed, 08 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election 2025

Tenant issue was raised with Jim Gavin in early September — Jack Chambers

Jack Chambers said he would urge Jim Gavin to repay any funds still owed to his former tenant and that he had not spoken to him since Sunday

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Kieran Shannon: Jim Gavin a great football man not cut out for the senior hurling of politics

S Kieran Shannon: Jim Gavin a great football man not cut out for the senior hurling of politics

The scale of Jim Gavin’s fall and fallout means the private and public rehabilitation will take a long time.

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

ieExplains: Will Jim Gavin's name stay on the presidential election ballot paper?

The former Dublin football manager dropped out of contention late on Sunday night

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Micheál Martin put ‘extensive pressure’ on Fianna Fáil TDs to back Jim Gavin

Micheál Martin put ‘extensive pressure’ on Fianna Fáil TDs to back Jim Gavin

Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor criticises party leadership, saying intense pressure and poor judgment led to Jim Gavin’s failed presidential bid

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Irish Examiner view: Huge fallout from gamble on Jim Gavin

The perceived lack of a robust selection process angered and baffled many within his own party, and it was seen by political observers as an unwise gamble

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Fergus Finlay: I have no sympathy for Jim Gavin — the whole thing was grubby

S Fergus Finlay: I have no sympathy for Jim Gavin — the whole thing was grubby

This tawdry mess is throwing a cloud over the office of the presidency, and now our choices are unacceptably narrow

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Dr Martin Mansergh funeral

Micheál Martin's position under threat as Fianna Fáil TDs smell 'blood in the air'

One TD suggested that it is '50/50' whether Mr Martin will still be Taoiseach at Christmas

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Louise Burne: Jim Gavin's doomed campaign could have been avoided if leadership listened to TDs

Louise Burne: Jim Gavin's doomed campaign could have been avoided if leadership listened to TDs

Jim Gavin’s short-lived presidential campaign reveals a Fianna Fáil divided, frustrated, and unwilling to rally behind its own leader’s pick

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Tadgh McNally: Taoiseach must answer why Fianna Fáil denied overpayment story

Tadgh McNally: Taoiseach must answer why Fianna Fáil denied overpayment story

Why, when this issue was discovered, was a clarifying statement not issued by the party and why was Mr Gavin unable to account for the matter during and after Sunday’s 'The Week in Politics' debate?

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

'He'd blown it': Jim Gavin was right to quit Áras race, say Cork voters

'He'd blown it': Jim Gavin was right to quit Áras race, say Cork voters

While there was some sympathy for Mr Gavin, the general consensus around Cork city centre was that he had no choice but to resign from the presidential election

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Martin Manseragh Funeral

Fianna Fáil asked Jim Gavin several times if he had difficulties with tenants, Taoiseach says

On RTÉ’s 'Six One News', Micheál Martin said he proposed Mr Gavin as the party needed a 'broad-based candidate who could have the potential to garner a significant degree of support across society'

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Paul Hosford: Fianna Fáil floods the airwaves to give air of calm control

By lunchtime, children's minister Norma Foley, Seán Fleming, Peter 'Chap' Cleere, and Pádraig O'Sullivan had also answered the call from RTÉ as the party's membership dealt with the fallout in different ways

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

‘So much more to unite than divide us’ – Heather Humphreys

‘So much more to unite than divide us’ – Heather Humphreys

Ms Humphreys spent the day in the Northern Ireland capital after the number of candidates shrank to two following the withdrawal of former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

ieExplains: What does the Jim Gavin scandal mean for the presidential election?

ieExplains: What does the Jim Gavin scandal mean for the presidential election?

While TDs and senators are due to hold their weekly parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, some are agitating for an earlier convening to discuss the fallout from Mr Gavin’s campaign

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

'Classless' Jack Chambers 'threw Jim Gavin under the bus', say Fianna Fáil TDs

'Classless' Jack Chambers 'threw Jim Gavin under the bus', say Fianna Fáil TDs

One Fianna Fáil source said Mr Chambers' position as deputy leader is under question

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Jim Gavin drops out of Áras race

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Jim Gavin drops out of Áras race

Irish Examiner acting political editor Paul Hosford joins Deirdre O'Shaughnessy to discuss what led up to Jim Gavin's decision to drop out; the pressure on candidates in the political race; and the repercussions for Fianna Fáil

Listen | Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

S Couple were expecting baby when fighting to get overpaid rent back from Jim Gavin

Jim Gavin withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday night after the issue came to light

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Terry Prone: Jim Gavin's withdrawal statement was ill-judged and showed no redemption

Terry Prone: Jim Gavin's withdrawal statement was ill-judged and showed no redemption

Resignations, apologies, and withdrawals are, in and of themselves, a route to redemption. Unfortunately for Mr Gavin, he did not take that redemptive route with his withdrawal statement

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Chambers: Jim Gavin’s account of rental dispute 'contradicted' by documents provided to Fianna Fáil

Chambers: Jim Gavin’s account of rental dispute 'contradicted' by documents provided to Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil's deputy leader has rowed in behind Taoiseach Micheál Martin and insisted due diligence was done on Jim Gavin before the former Dublin manager withdrew from the presidential election race

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Billy Kelleher: Fianna Fáil did not do 'due diligence' before selecting Jim Gavin as presidential candidate

Billy Kelleher: Fianna Fáil did not do 'due diligence' before selecting Jim Gavin as presidential candidate

Billy Kelleher, who had hoped to run as Fianna Fáil's candidate, said there were 'multiple failures' in the campaign

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Fianna Fáil 'a laughing stock' as Taoiseach under pressure following Jim Gavin's exit

Fianna Fáil 'a laughing stock' as Taoiseach under pressure following Jim Gavin's exit

One Fianna Fáil party source called Jim Gavin's short-lived presidential campaign 'a complete and utter f**k up from top to bottom'

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Paul Hosford: Jim Gavin's Áras race lasted two weeks. His exit may reverberate for much longer

Paul Hosford: Jim Gavin's Áras race lasted two weeks. His exit may reverberate for much longer

'Mr Gavin seemed genuinely surprised at the strength of media questioning he faced. Perhaps the consistent success he enjoyed as Dubs boss shielded him from this level of scrutiny'

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Fianna Fáil presidential election candidate Jim Gavin withdraws from race

'When I announced my intention to contest the presidential election, I did so in a spirit of lifelong public service and a love of country. That has always been my sole motivation,' he said

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Presidential election: Jim Gavin fails to answer questions about failure to register apartment

'I didn’t register it, yeah,' Mr Gavin said. He was also asked about reports that a former tenant of the rental property was not reimbursed rent he had overpaid

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

IE_logo_newsletters

Select your favourite newsletters and get the best of Irish Examiner delivered to your inbox