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MAIREAD MCGUINNESS HAS withdrawn from the race for the Irish presidency.
Citing medical advice, the former Fine Gael MEP made the bombshell announcement this afternoon that she would no longer be contesting the election for the Áras.
McGuinness, who was previously a vice-president of the European Parliament, had been hotly tipped for the role to succeed Michael D Higgins in the vote later this year.
McGuinness said it was an “extremely difficult” call but was adamant that it’s the “right decision” for her and her family.
“I have made the very difficult decision to withdraw my name as the Fine Gael nominee for the Presidential election,” McGuinness said in the surprise statement this afternoon.
“This decision is not lightly taken and follows a stay in hospital last week,” McGuinness revealed.
Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris paid tribute to McGuinness for her “incredible contribution” to public life and said her pulling out of the race was an “awful shock” to party members.
Mairead McGuinness has made an incredible contribution to public life in Ireland and in Europe. It was our clear view in @FineGael and the view of many people across Ireland that Mairead would make an excellent President of Ireland.
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 14, 2025
Mairead’s health will not now allow this. pic.twitter.com/kHfJFklSlu
McGuinness said she had discussed the decision with Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, and thanked him for his “support and understanding” on the withdrawal.
It likely brings an end to a career that has spanned media, farming and politics, with McGuinness spending 20 years in Brussels as part of the EU political scene.
In her statement, she outlined that she does “not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all” if she were to stand.
“My priority now is my health,” McGuinness said.
Given that the election is in a short couple of months, I do not believe that I have the strength to give the campaign my all.
McGuinness, who is 66, added: “I appreciate that this will come as a shock and disappointment to party members and colleagues in Fine Gael, but our political family is strong.
“I also want to thank all of those people who have done so much to support me, now and in the past.”
In a statement released by Harris, he said that it was “our clear view in Fine Gael and the view of many people across Ireland that Mairead would make an excellent President of Ireland”, were she to be in a position to contest the election.
“Mairead’s health will not now allow this,” the party leader said.
“This has come as an awful shock to us all. Mairead is a valued member of our Fine Gael family. It is absolutely essential that she now prioritises her health and I know I speak for everyone when I wish her all the very best on that journey.”
Harris added that Fine Gael’s executive council will convene in the coming days to “consider further the Presidential election” for the party.
Fine Gael Director of Elections Martin Heydon said this meeting of the executive council would discuss the “next steps” around whether it would stand a candidate in place of McGuinness.
“The Fine Gael Executive Council will meet in the coming days to discuss the next steps, but for now, I, along with Mairead’s many friends and colleagues within the party send their very best wishes to her and her family,” Heydon said.
Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who launched her bid for the Áras last month, said McGuinness’s decision “has come as a shock to all of us”.
“Without a doubt this decision could not have been an easy one for her to make,” Connolly said in a statement.
“I would like to extend my best wishes to to Mairead and her family at this time, and all the best for the future.”
Entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan, who launched his campaign today, said his thoughts were with McGuinness.
“She has been a great public servant, a dedicated MEP and EU Commissioner and was set to be the front running candidate in the upcoming Presidential election. I wish her the very best on her health journey.”
Before entering politics, McGuinness was best known for her role presenting RTÉ’s Ear to the Ground TV programme. The Drogheda native also did stints with the Irish Farmers Journal and as editor of the Irish Independent’s Farming Independent supplement.
She saw her first major success in politics at the 2004 European Parliament elections. With her background in television and farming media, she was able to scoop 25% of votes cast in the old East constituency, which covered Leinster outside of Dublin.
In 2009, she was re-elected and later served as an MEP for the Midlands–North-West constituency.
From 2014, McGuinness began moving into senior European roles, first serving as a vice-president of the European Parliament before getting promoted to the European Commission in 2020.
McGuinness spent four years as Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, departing the job after last year’s elections.
McGuinness did not stand in last year’s ballot, with a wide expectation that she was eyeing the opportunity to replace Michael D Higgins in Áras an Uachtaráin.
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