LAST UPDATE | 19 Sep

A FORMER LORD mayor of Cork has picked up a surprise nomination from Waterford City and County Council for the presidential race.

He was one of 11 candidates going before councillors in Dungarvan today and won out in a tight vote – by 11 votes to 10. Another five councillors abstained on the vote.

McCarthy served as Lord Mayor of Cork for one term, ending last year, and became known for his fine singing voice, which he occasionally put to use, as when he was confronted by far-right protesters during his time in the office.

McCarthy was proposed by Independent Joe O’ Riordan and seconded by fellow Independent Joe Kelly as a candidate.

He now needs the support of three more councils to get on the ballot.

Earlier, businessman Gareth Sheridan had a setback in his bid for a presidential nomination, missing out on a nomination from county councillors in Carlow.

The council was one of the local authorities that Sheridan was eyeing up to help him get on the ballot for next month’s vote.

Sheridan’s campaign team had been hopeful that Carlow might swing the entrepreneur’s way after he secured a proposer and seconder from the 18 elected members. He had skipped three other councils that were holding their presidential meetings today to hone in on Carlow

But he lost out by 11 votes to seven, meaning he must now look to meetings on Monday in Meath and Offaly.

Sheridan is still halfway towards the required four council nominations to contest next month’s election, having received support from councillors in Tipperary and Kerry already this week.

He was the only name before Carlow councillors this afternoon, having been nominated by Independent councillor Will Paton and Independent Ireland’s John Cassin.

In his address, Sheridan said he wanted to “put the politics of left and right behind us”, adding when questioned that he was “absolutely” in favour of a united Ireland and hoped to see it take place during the next presidential term.

However, opposition came from a number of councillors, including Fine Gael and People Before Profit.

Earlier this week, one Fine Gael councillor in Carlow told The Journal this week that they have been “instructed to specifically vote against” any candidate looking to get on the ballot and so likely won’t back Sheridan.

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The latest council meetings offering a chance for would-be candidates to get their names on the Áras ballot get underway again this afternoon.

Aside from Carlow, councillors in Waterford, Wexford, and South Dublin have all been holding meetings offering a chance for would-be candidates to get their names on the Áras ballot get underway again this afternoon.

Maria Steen, who has the backing of Aontú and several Independent TDs and senators, was due to present to Wexford.

Steen received a boost in her bid today when junior minister Michael Healy Rae said he would give her a nomination to stand for president, in case the council route doesn’t work out.

The election takes place Friday 24 October.