Presidential Election 2025 - Irish Examiner

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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2025

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<span lang="EN-US">With the Independent candidate 18 points ahead of Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys just over a week out from polling day, things are looking for Catherine Connolly.</span> Picture: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie</p>

politics

Catherine Connolly urges supporters to use their vote, as 'polls don't win elections'

Ms Connolly was speaking at a panel discussion, which focused on human rights for disabled people and carers

<p>Paul Murphy (right) is taking legal proceedings against Heather Humphreys (left). </p>

news

Humphreys takes legal advice as Paul Murphy launches defamation case over debate remarks

Paul Hosford: Poll puts Connolly on top as presidential race heads into final week

voting

politics

Presidential election: Can't decide who to vote for? This tool will help

Irish presidential election

politics

'I was the braver person' to drop controversial paper on disability reforms, says Heather Humphreys

Irish presidential election

politics

Connolly takes commanding lead over Humphreys in presidential race, new poll shows

Election 2025: More

Fianna Fáil appoints panel to review botched Jim Gavin presidential election bid

Fianna Fáil appoints panel to review botched Jim Gavin presidential election bid

Tom Brabazon, Eamon Scanlon, Margaret Murphy O’Connor, and chairman Ciaran O’Loughlin SC will bring specific proposals back to the party by November 12

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Catherine Connolly says her presidential election campaign has Fine Gael ‘very worried’

Left-wing Independent TD said: 'This movement is gaining momentum with every day, every minute, every hour'

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Heather Humphreys rules out Dáil return if she loses presidential election

Heather Humphreys rules out Dáil return if she loses presidential election

Presidential hopeful Heather Humphreys says her bid for the Áras is her final political act, ruling out a Dáil return

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Paul Hosford: Strange choices during Heather Humphreys' last-ever political campaign

Fine Gael presidential candidate had just two engagements on Wednesday, in one of which she addressed a transition year class about a tricolour campaign she launched when they were aged about 5 or 6

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Louise Burne: Harvey’s grieving family deserve better than parties going through the motions

Louise Burne: Harvey’s grieving family deserve better than parties going through the motions

Aontú's motion of no confidence in the Tánaiste, and the Government's own confidence motion designed to forestall it, achieve precisely zero for children with spinal issues

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

The Tonight Show Presidential Debate hosted by Virgin Media Television

Richard Hogan: There's more to life than the presidential race — especially for the candidates

For a political race that really has no power at the end of a potentially life-altering, chaotic pursuit, one would be wise to wonder, why bother?

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Heather Humphreys confirms she attended an event which is being investigated by gardaí

Presidential candidate said gardaí stated 'there was absolutely no wrongdoing on behalf of anybody that attended that event'

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election 2025

Sarah Harte: Our presidential contest illustrates just how far Irish women have come

They couldn't be more different, but Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys were both born into an Ireland that was downright hostile to women

Wed, 15 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

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

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Busy day for presidential candidates on the campaign trail

Busy day for presidential candidates on the campaign trail

Catherine Connolly was whisked around Kildare, while Heather Humphreys focused on Dublin city centre.

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

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

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

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

Heather Humphreys again denies political interference in animal cruelty case

Ms Humphreys said a case in which she received a letter from a family member of a farmer had been 'well aired', and she passed the letter on to the Department of Agriculture without comment or a covering letter

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

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

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

The 23-year-old cyclist died in August 2011

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

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

Fine Gael now faces a key challenge in the days ahead, as a narrative grows that it is engaging in a smear campaign

Mon, 13 Oct, 2025

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

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