Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FORMER DUBLIN FOOTBALL manager Jim Gavin has broken his silence after being confirmed as Fianna Fáil’s presidential election candidate.
Gavin won today’s secret ballot of the parliamentary party, beating out MEP Billy Kelleher. Gavin received 41 votes to Kelleher’s 29.
Gavin is best known for his famous five-in-a-row glory with the Dublin football team between 2015 and 2019.
He is an ex-Air Corp Commandant and current operations director for the Irish Aviation Authority.
In recent months, he has been hailed as a football champion once more, after chairing a committee that changed the rules of the game.
He chaired a Citizens’ Assembly on Dublin’s directly elected Mayor and the North-East Inner City Taskforce in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Speaking to reporters after the results of the ballot were announced, Gavin said he was honoured to have been selected by members of the parliamentary party to represent Fianna Fáil in the election.
“We’ve had a very robust competition, and I’ve been involved in competitions all my life, and I think this will be the toughest campaign that I’ve ever been involved in, but I’ve got great support from the parliamentary party,” Gavin said, speaking outside Leinster House where the vote took place this morning.
Both candidates made a 10-minute pitch to the members ahead of the secret ballot.
“I travelled the length and breadth of the country over the last week, meeting deputies, senators, MEPs, sharing my vision for the presidency, getting their feedback, and giving them the opportunity to ask me some questions. So I’m very honoured.
“The energy that I felt in the room today was so positive, so energetic, and it speaks my vision to have a presidency with energy and an active presidency on behalf of the Irish people.”
Since Gavin’s name appeared in the last number of weeks as Taoiseach and party leader Micheál Martin’s choice for the party’s candidate, he has kept a low profile, leading to questions on his views on numerous issues.
Many Fianna Fáil TDs who spoke to The Journal ahead of the vote today said they feel that they know little about Jim Gavin, who will now have to introduce himself to both the party and the electorate.
Today he described himself as a “constitutional Republican”, a “centrist”, and someone who is “motivated by a sense of duty”.
He denied that he is a “closet Fine Gaeler” after an image of himself and Fine Gael Minister of State Emer Higgins from 2019 appeared in the media over the weekend – including one with a banner digitally imposed that stated ‘I’m voting Emer Higgins No 1 on Friday’.
Gavin said he has worked with people from all parties and of none throughout his professional career.
On his own views, he said he is a centrist who voted to repeal the eight amendment in the abortion referendum. He also voted yes in the referendum on gay marriage.
The 29 votes for Kelleher today is significantly higher than the six public endorsements he entered the room with, meaning that he managed to sway a large portion of the parliamentary party.
The relatively close result does not bode well for leader Micheál Martin, who has faced criticism for his backing of Gavin and how Fianna Fáil’s presidential process has been handled.
Asked how Gavin expects to win the presidential election given the relatively close margin by which he won the ballot of parliamentary members, Gavin said: “For me, the presidency is all about being the first person of the State, not the first politician. We had a competition this morning. I think that was really important.
“I won that competition. I’m now nominated as the candidate for Fianna Fáil, and I really look forward to getting on the road, meeting people, visiting all the communities, all the villages in Ireland, as best I can.”
The Taoiseach commended Billy Kelleher following the vote, but said, “We have selected an outstanding candidate in Jim Gavin, who is extremely well known throughout the country. He has served in Óglaigh na hÉireann and in peacekeeping, which to me, is the most noble duty anybody can perform.”
Kelleher issued his congratulations to Gavin following the ballot.
“I am a Fianna Fáil man to my core. Jim will have my absolute support in the upcoming campaign and election, and I look forward to campaigning and voting for him as our next Uachtarán na hÉireann.”
“While being the Fianna Fáil candidate for President of Ireland would have been a great honour for me personally, it was sadly not to be.”
Despite this, he said he is heartened by his strong showing in today’s secret ballot. He thanked all who voted for him and his family for their support.
With reporting from Emma Hickey
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say