Businessman Gareth Sheridan has said “it’s still all to play for” after failing to secure the backing of Carlow County Council for his presidential ambitions.
Mr Sheridan’s chances of getting onto the presidential election ballot were dealth a significant blow after the council’s decision not to nominate anyone to enter the election on Friday night.
The local authority had been a key target for Mr Sheridan who has already secured nominations from Tipperary and Kerry.
“I’m no worse off than before I went into the council,” he said leaving the meeting. “I have the weekend to gather myself and go again next week. It’s still all to play for.”
In the end Mr Sheridan received seven votes for and 11 against. He had been in the unique position of being allowed present to the councillors – including six from Fine Gael and five from Fianna Fáil.
He told them he “might just be the youngest ever candidate” hoping to be placed on the ballot and that he was “shocked” to see his age group “still living at home” due to housing shortages. In a way, he said, “they are a lost generation”.
Mr Sheridan must still convince two more councils to facilitate his bid with crunch meetings on Monday. Local authorities in Meath, Offaly and Louth – which will all meet that day – are seen as possible sources of nominations.
South Dublin County Council, which also met on Friday, similarly decided not to nominate any candidate. Councillors had expressed frustration at poor attendance by individuals seeking their support.
Elsewhere on Friday, the Green Party joined the Social Democrats, Labour and People Before Profit in backing Independent candidate Catherine Connolly after a meeting of its national executive.
Party leader Roderic O’Gorman said Ms Connolly “has a long track record of advocacy for vulnerable and marginalised groups within Irish society” and was particularly impressed with that regarding the genocide in Gaza and the issue of climate change.
Earlier , Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae said he will nominate conservative campaigner Maria Steen to enter the presidential election.
The Kerry Independent TD said he was still “100 per cent backing” Fine Gael’s candidate Heather Humphreys but he was signing Ms Steen’s nomination papers to ensure there was a “fair and full choice” for voters.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín, who has been seeking to build support among Oireachtas members to facilitate her entry into the race, said on Friday he was “confident” 12 TDs and Senators have committed to nominating her.
Aspiring candidates, however, will need the support of 20 Oireachtas members or four local authorities to get on the ballot paper for next month’s election. Ms Steen has been pursuing both routes to a nomination.
She has so far not secured the backing of any councils but Leitrim County Council is set to vote on Monday on whether to nominate her.
Independent candidate Gareth Sheridan, who has already secured the backing of two local authorities, is due to make a presentation to Carlow County Council on Friday evening in a bid to secure their nomination.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Healy-Rae said that “democracy is best served when candidates who are serious and committed are not denied their place on the ballot”.
Mr Healy-Rae added: “Today, I have decided to sign the nomination papers for Maria Steen.
“In the same spirit of fairness and respect for the democratic process, I will be giving her the opportunity to contest the election.”
He continued: “I want to be absolutely clear, my support in this election is firmly with Heather Humphreys.”
Signing a nomination paper did not amount to electoral support, he explained, but was about giving voters a choice.
A series of Oireachtas members last week gave commitments to back Ms Steen after a meeting where they heard from four presidential hopefuls.
Michael Healy-Rae said he wanted a ‘fair and full choice’ for voters in the presidential election. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Mr Tóibín named eight of them as: himself; party colleagues deputy Paul Lawless and Senator Sarah O’Reilly; Independent TDs Mattie McGrath and Carol Nolan; and Senators Joe Conway, Rónán Mullen and Sharon Keogan.
Dublin Mid-West Independent TD Paul Gogarty also later confirmed he attended the meeting and he told the candidates there, including Ms Steen, that if they were in a position where they “need a vote or two” to reach 20 Oireachtas members, he would add his nomination.
On Friday Mr Tóibín said he was “confident” that there are now 12 Oireachtas members who have signed or are willing to sign nomination papers for Ms Steen.
He said he was hoping two more will “come over the line this weekend”, which would bring the number to 14.
Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin and the party’s deputy leader, Jack Chambers. Photograph: Cillian Sherlock/PA
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s ardchomhairle will meet on Saturday, with an announcement expected on the party’s approach to the presidential election.
Party leader Mary Lou McDonald has said its decision will be a “game changer” and would alter the nature of the election campaign.
As a result of her comment that the chosen person has “plenty of Irish”, speculation has narrowed to fluent Irish speakers such as the party’s own TD Pearse Doherty, or the Independent Catherine Connolly.
Comments on Friday from Sinn Féin MEP and ardchomhairle member Kathleen Funchion lavishing praise on Ms Connolly will fuel that speculation.
Ms Funchion told KCLR radio: “I have said before publicly I think we should support Catherine”, describing her as a person who “can listen to people that she doesn’t agree with”.
“Because she will, in her role as president, ultimately probably have to meet with maybe other state leaders that she might feel a bit uncomfortable with.
“I think she’ll be well able to do that … I also love that she’s a Gaeilgeoir. I really do. I think that that is fantastic.”
Despite her praise, Ms Funchion repeated that the Sinn Féin decision would be made on Saturday. “I should say that too before I lose the run of myself here.”
She told The Irish Times: “I don’t know what the [ardchomhairle] decision is still but I’m hoping it will be to back Catherine Connolly.”
Elsewhere, Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin said his focus remained on his own campaign as he submitted his presidential nomination papers.
Mr Gavin was accompanied by Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers as he submitted the paperwork at the Custom House in Dublin on Friday, having secured the backing of the party.
Asked if he was concerned about Sinn Féin weighing into the contest, Mr Gavin said his focus was on Fianna Fáil.