It's on: Heather Humphreys joins the race to the Áras
She officially declared her intention to run at a meeting of the Fine Gael Executive Council last night
HEATHER Humphreys has confirmed her decision to run for president.
The announcement follows days of speculation about whether the former Fine Gael Cavan-Monaghan TD and minister would run after the shock withdrawal of Mairead McGuinness from the race on Friday.
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly has also announced his intention to contest the presidential election.
Both high-profile candidates made their decisions to run official at a meeting of the Fine Gael Executive Council last night.
Nominations for the party’s presidential candidate reopen at midday today and will close at midday on September 2.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said the decision to reopen nominations will enable the party to have a candidate in place by mid-September.
Despite retiring from politics ahead of the General Election in May because she felt she didn't have the energy the job of TD required for five years, Heather Humphreys has announced her intention to launch a campaign for the presidential election.
Her decision comes after her Fine Gael party colleague, Mairead McGuinness, withdrew from the race on Friday on "medical grounds".
Before she entered politics, Heather Humphreys, was a familiar face in the Credit Union in Cootehill.
She was elected to Monaghan County Council in 2004 becoming its Cathaoirleach in 2009. By 2011, she was elected to Dáil Éireann as Fine Gael TD for Cavan-Monaghan.
During her time as a TD she held five ministerial posts including Minister of Arts, Justice, Rural Affairs and Social Protection. She was also the Fine Gael deputy leader from April 2024 until her retirement.
According to the Fine Gael website, Heather Humphreys' favourite quote is: ‘good leadership can be described as humility with a great resolve to succeed’.
Heather is married to Eric, a Co Monaghan farmer. They have two children and two grandchildren.
The former Cavan-Monaghan TD follows in the footsteps of Ballyhaise businessman Seán Gallagher from Cavan who made a bid for the presidency in 2011.