Humphreys to be confirmed as FG presidential candidate today

MEP Sean Kelly withdraws from the process; Bob Geldof latest name to be linked with a run

Heather Humphreys will be confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate for the presidential election later today.

It follows the withdrawal of Fine Gael MEP Seán Kelly from the party's selection process overnight.

Party nominations close at midday today (Tuesday), September 2, but former Minister for Rural Affairs, Heather Humphreys, has remained the front runner since she announced her intention to seek the nomination a few weeks ago.

The party had previously selected former European commissioner Mairead McGuinness to be its candidate, but she withdrew last month for health reasons.

In a statement yesterday (Monday), Mr Kelly said that, while a contest would have been good for the party, it had become clear he could not gather the required 20 nominations from the parliamentary party to contest the selection process.

“I have therefore, reluctantly, decided to withdraw my name from the process. I know this will come as a great disappointment to my supporters, but I am happy to have put myself forward and unfortunately the ball didn’t bounce in my favour on this occasion,” he said.

MEP Kelly thanked those who supported his bid including 12 members of the parliamentary party.

To become president, he said, "would have been the greatest honour of my life.”

Instead, he returns to Brussels to continue his work on behalf of his constituents in Ireland South.

MEP Kelly wished Ms Humphreys well with her campaign, praised her as a candidate and promised to help her to win the presidency.

She faces stiff competition in former Dublin manager Jim Gavin, who is expected to be confirmed as the Fianna Fáil candidate and Independent Catherine Connolly.

Bob Geldof is the latest potential candidate to declare his interest in a run in recent days.

Speaking to this newspaper, Heather Humphreys promised to be a “unifying force” if elected the next President of Ireland.

“Where there is division I would try to bring unity,” she pledged. “I would like to deepen the relationship between the people of the North of Ireland and the South.”

The former Cavan Monaghan TD believes, in the role of presidency, she could draw from her experience as Arts and Culture Minister when she organised the nation’s 1916 commemorations.

“The most important thing is community,” she told the Celt. Likewise, she says her experience as a former Minister for Enterprise helped her understand Ireland’s position on the world stage and as president she would be “an outward-looking president who would have pride representing the country overseas”.

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.

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.