Former Dragon’s Den entrepreneur, an anti-vaccination campaigner and the world famous ex UFC champion are the most notable names on list
Those names included former Met Éireann presenter Joanna Donnelly who has since withdrawn her application to seek a nomination.
Elsewhere, the list features the former CEO of US-based company Nutriband, Gareth Sheridan (35), who has vowed to become a voice for the young people of Ireland should he be elected. Sheridan has gone on record as saying he has received the backing of Laois and Tipperary County Council, leaving him two short of the four councils required to get his name on the ballot paper.
Potential candidates must receive the backing of four councils or 20 members of the Oireachteas to be officially ratified as a nominee. In order to receive the backing of a county council a candidate must receive a majority of votes from sitting councillors. However, the prospect of an independent candidate securing the backing of Wexford County Council, or any other local authority, has been made more difficult by Fine Gael’s decision to instruct its councillors to vote against any independents.
Fianna Fáil has yet to make a decision on whether to block any independent candidates. If it follows Fine Gael’s suit this would end the prospects of the candidates seeking a nomination from WCC as the two government parties have a majority in the chamber.
But who are the other candidates?
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Peter Casey, pictured at Dublin Castle for the 2018 presidential election. Photo: Gerry Mooney
Having finished second to Michael D. Higgins in 2018, Peter Casey is returning for another shot at the presidency this time around. Much of his success seven years ago was attributed to comments made regarding Ireland’s Traveller community and a case involving a family at a housing estate in co Tipperary. He ended up receiving 342,727 first preference votes or 23.3 pc of the votes.
Also seeking a nomination is Dolores Cahill. A former professor at UCD, Ms Cahill came to prominence during the Covid-19 when she posted a series of videos denouncing restrictions imposed by the department of health and subsequently clashed with gardaí when she was refused entry to a polling centre for not wearing a mask.
Dolores Cahill
Today’s News in 90 seconds – 8th September 2025
Meanwhile, Nick Delehanty has said he has “proposers and seconders” in “six to 10 councils”. Stating that he doesn’t believe in multiculturalism, Delehanty (35) has argued that the “department of children has been completely decimated and used as a proxy to funnel billions of Euro in IPAS payments”.
Describing herself as a “dedicated, humanitarian public figure”, Sarah Louise Mulligan previously sought a presidential nomination in 2018 and is hoping WCC will support her campaign this time around. A pro-life campaigner, Ms Mulligan recorded a video at a protest in Ballymun in 2023 which she titled “Ireland is Full”.
Sarah Louise Mulligan is seeking a nomination from Wexford County Council.
Gerben Uunk is originally from The Netherlands but now resides in Co Limerick where last year he contested the mayoral election for the Animal Welfare Party.
Donegal-native Keith McGrory has been involved in the construction sector for over 25 years and is the founder of Waterford-based company McGrory Homes. On a social media post he stated “everyone will need to be on there (sic) best orders if I am in the Aras”.
Dominic Plant ran unsuccessfully in the general election in the Wicklow constituency in 2024 having previously contested the 2014 and 2024 local elections, also unsuccessfully. In his election manifesto he stated that housing “remains a burning issue” and the “provision of more local jobs” would prevent workers having to “commute elsewhere”.
Ratoath woman Lorna McCormack is the founder of Wool in School which she says is an “innovative educational initiative dedicated to integrating the fascinating world of wool into school curriculums”. On the presidential campaign, Ms McCormack says she is running because she believes “the Áras is the hearth of warmth, a gathering place for every voice in this Republic.”
Conor McGregor
Also seeking a nomination is mathematics lecturer at Technological University of Dublin (TUD), Dr Cora Stack, who describes herself as a “mathematician, academic, and writer with wide interests that extend far beyond numbers – politics, music, culture, psychology, human rights, law, and the search for meaning in a complex world.”
Walter Ryan Purcell ran for Independent Ireland in the Cork North West constituency in last year’s General Election. He has previously worked as a tour operator, running Walter’s Way Tours, and is passionate about promoting Irish heritage.
A further four candidates, Searlait Ní Chianáin, Paudie Ó Dúinnin, Billy O’Connell, and Gearóid Duffy, have submitted applications for a nomination to WCC.
Candidates have until September 24 to submit their applications to the council.
The full list of candidates hoping to receive a nomination from Wexford County Council is as follows:Sarah Louise MulliganKeith McGroryDominic PlantBilly O’ConnellLorna McCormackDr Cora StackGareth SheridanSearlait Ní ChianáinPaudie Ó DúinninNick DelehantyWalter Ryan PurcellJoanna Donnelly (since withdrawn)Conor McGregorDolores CahillPeter CaseyGerben UunkGearoid Duffy
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.