Meath County Council is meeting now to receive presentations from candidates seeking a nomination.

However, there is a chance that councillors may choose not to nominate anyone.

Some councillors are complaining that they have not been contacted by candidates, but councillor Dave Boyne is making the point that this ongoing council meeting is an opportunity to speak to councillors and there should be no need to make contact beforehand. 

Meath County Council is due to hear from 17 candidates, however there is a chance now that no one will speak.

Should councillors decide not to nominate someone, they will move on with their agenda and not hear from any candidates. 

A break is now being suggested because of confusion of how to proceed in Meath. 

Some councillors are expressing concern at the idea of hearing from some 17 candidates, and then deciding not to move to a vote on whether to support a candidate.

They would rather not hear from any candidate and “waste a whole day” if councillors decide against moving to a vote to support a candidate.

As councillor debate in Meath, Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has been on RTÉ Ráidió na Gaeltachta’s morning news programme, Adhmhaidin,  welcoming the decisions of Sinn Féin and the Green Party to support her campaign. 

Responding to a question regarding her own support for the candidacy of Gemma O’Doherty in 2018, she had this to say about the process about becoming a candidate.

“There is a need for a debate about how you can become a candidate for this very important election and we have never had this debate,” said the Galway West TD.

“It’s too late to have this debate for this election and I wish every success for all those seeking a nomination today.”

There is some confusion in Meath County Council and the meeting has now been suspended for five minutes.

Some councillors are against the idea of hearing from some 17 candidates if at the end, the Council decides against moving to a vote on the possibility of supporting a candidate.

Meath councillors are now voting on whether to hear from any candidates, the argument being that it would be a waste to time to hear from 17 people only for a vote on a nomination to be blocked later. 

The option will still be open to NOT vote to confirm a candidate if councillors decide now to hear from candidates.

Meath County Council will hear from the presidential hopefuls.

A motion was put forward to start with a vote on whether to choose to nominate, with some arguing it would be a waste of time to hear from some 17 people only for councillors to later vote against potentially nominating someone. 

However, a majority of councillors have decided to go ahead with hearing from prospective candidates. 

Candidates have begun addressing Meath County Council, beginning with Charlie Keddy, who says he wants to be an “anti-abortion figurehead”.

Adds that being on the ballot would be enough for him. 

Proceedings are running around 45 minutes behind schedule, after the meeting of Meath County Council began on a motion on whether to actually hear from candidates.

Charlotte Keenan is the second person up and Gareth Sheridan will be up in around half an hour. 

David Parnell has not turned up so now we move to Gareth Sheridan.

He starts by outlining the responsibility councillors have to endorse candidates and appeals to councillors not to dismiss his campaign as “youthful arrogance”.

He said that while he has no active political experience, neither does Fianna Fáil candidate Jim Gavin.

Adds that while Gavin has substantial “life experience” as former Dublin GAA manager, so does he in his role as a pharma CEO going “against the odds”.

He says he has come home from abroad and was “shocked” at the numbers of young people living at home and looking to emigrate. 

He notes that the president has no executive power, but has constitutional power.

He also hits out at people for blaming immigrants for a shortage of housing and says he will tackle this head on. 

Says he is pro-EU and in favour of military neutrality but not “moral” neutrality.

He then lists off: “I’m pro-united Ireland, pro-choice, pro-same sex marriage, and pro-business.”

One councillor asks why Sheridan would step away from his successful business to run for president.

He says he is “amazed” and “confused” someone would leave a “business with so much potential as a multi-billion dollar business”. 

Sheridan says the business, health company Nutriband, is “in safe hands now” but that his decision to step aside should show how “serious” he is.

“A young president could be just what this country needs to unite people and is a great message to send that young people are invited into the conversation.”

Another councillor asks would Sheridan step away permanently from his business should he become president; he recently decided to “step aside”.

Sheridan says that if successful, he would have “no ongoing role and would be totally separate from the business that I started.”

When asked what public service means to him, Sheridan says he has been getting engaged with charities and communities since returning home last year, mentioning work with Merchant’s Quay Ireland. 

Adds that Ireland will “always be home” and that he has “no ambition to relocate again”.

Sheridan adds that Ireland is “caught up in the politics of left and right” and voiced concern that nowadays, some people “hate” people who have a different political opinion to them. 

Many more councillor wanted to ask a question of Sheridan, but each candidate is only given ten minutes for a Q&A. 

Candidate Sarah Louise Mulligan seems to have missed her opportunity to address councillors in Meath after issues with her camera. 

The Council has allowed for online presentations but the camera must be turned on and the candidate must been seen on screen.

However, when it was Sarah Louise Mulligans’s time, for a long period the camera was pointed towards what appeared to be a train seat.

After a few minutes, the council decided to move on to Lucy-Anne O’Leary. 

In Louth, talks are still underway to allow Gareth Sheridan to present to councillors.

A spokesperson for the Sheridan campaign has told our reporter Eoghan Dalton that they believe a technical glitch is to blame for the council not receiving Sheridan’s passport identification in an email last week.

They hope to have it sorted so Sheridan can join fellow candidates Keith McGrory and Nick Delahanty at this evening’s meeting.

The final decision resting with councillors and Louth County Council has not confirmed whether the 36-year-old businessman can attend the meeting.

After hearing from several candidates of a potential 17, Meath County Council decided to vote on whether to support Gareth Sheridan’s nomination.

However, he narrowly missed out on their support.

There were 13 votes in favour of backing his nomination but 14 against.

There were also five abstentions and eight councillors absent. 

Gavin condemns online ‘smears’

Away from the council meetings, Fianna Fáil’s election candidate Jim Gavin has hit out at “smears” posted about him online.

One of the posts on the social media website X that Gavin says contained “utterly false stories” about him is believed to have been viewed over 650,000 times.

According to a statement by Fianna Fáil, Gavin has written to Meta, X, TikTok and Coimisiún na Meán demanding that action is taken over the posts.

Our political correspondent Jane Matthews has more here.

So where does today’s setback in Meath leave Gareth Sheridan?

Meath was one of three councils that his campaign was openly targeting last week, along with Carlow and Offaly.

But the businessman’s campaign is starting to run out of road after missing out narrowly in Meath today and in Carlow last Friday.

He still needs two councils – up next today is Offaly County Council and he is also hoping to also argue his case before Louth County Council later this evening.

Sheridan is guaranteed the support of some councillors, having already secured a proposer and seconder on both local authorities.

Gareth Sheridan was eyeing up Meath County Council and came up short, but over in Leitrim there could be good news for Maria Steen.

From around 2pm, Leitrim County Council will meet to discuss whether to nominate Steen, who presented to councillors last week alongside 12 other candidates.

Steen was put forward for consideration to receive Leitrim’s backing following those presentations, and her candidacy will be examined as a single agenda item by the council today. 

Two Fianna Fáil councillors are among the five to have already pledged their support to Steen, though it would be an uphill battle to secure the backing of three other councils before nominations close on Wednesday.

There had been confusion over whether Gareth Sheridan would be allowed to speak to Louth County Council.

That’s after he failed to submit a copy of his passport and a short biographical statement to the council by last Friday’s deadline.

However, it appears as though he will be able to address the council later this evening.

In a statement this afternoon, Louth County Council said Sheridan did not submit the required documentation on time and was advised that his participation in today’s meeting would not be accommodated.

However, the Council has since received this documentation and said that it will be considered by councillors at this evening’s meeting at 6.30pm.

Three presidential candidates that had received the requisite support from councillors to address tonight’s Council meeting is Gareth Sheridan, Keith McGrory, and Nick Delehanty.

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Fianna Fáil’s Paddy Farrell, has told Shannonside News that he believes Maria Steen stands a good chance of getting on the ballot.

He said it is his understanding that Steen has the backing of 18 Oireachtas members – candidates need the backing of four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members. 

Other county councils are stealing the spotlight today and over in Sligo, only one candidate gave a presentation to councillors.

The meeting was scheduled to hear from seven candidates but only Gearoid Duffy showed up.

The Council then decided not to nominate anyone for a potential presidential bid, as there was no proposer or seconder for Duffy.

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council and Fianna Fáil councillor Donal Gilroy told Ocean FM that councillors found it disrespectful. 

“We all came in,” said Gilroy. 

“One councillor proposed a candidate who had decided not to come, who didn’t grace us with his presence.”

He added that it was decided that people had to be there in person and couldn’t present online. 

Monaghan County Council is another local authority today which has slipped under the radar.

Ten candidates had sought their support but Monaghan County Council has voted not to nominate any potential candidate.

According to Northern Sound News, the Council decided against moving to a vote on whether to nominate a candidate.

Some 15 of the 18 councillors present said they didn’t want to nominate any of the 10 hopefuls they heard from at meeting.

Neither Gareth Sheridan nor Maria Steen addressed Monaghan County Council. 

Kildare County Council has confirmed it will not be putting forward a presidential candidate.

A special meeting was held with just one item on the agenda – Cllr Tom McDonnell’s proposal to nominate Maria Steen.

While his motion last week was seconded by two Fianna Fáil councillors, McDonnell failed to arrive on time for the proposal today, meaning it lapsed.

As a result, no nomination will be made from Kildare.

In Cork County Council, members are hearing from a number of hopefuls.

Over in Offaly, Gareth Sheridan is present in person hoping to secure their backing.

After coming up short by one vote in Meath, the stakes are all the more higher for Sheridan in Offaly.

Offaly County Council Cathaoirleach John Leahy has told Midlands 103 that while he is undecided who he will vote for in the actual election, he will certainly vote to allow Sheridan on the ballot.

“I can’t see why Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would be threatened by this, because they have two very credible candidates,” said Leahy.

He added: “I’m going to give an independent and an underdog the opportunity to be on the ballot.”

Maria Steen has failed to be nominated by Leitrim County Council.

She was among a number of candidates to address the local authority last week and Fianna Fáil’s Mary Bohan and Justin Warnock, along with independent Irene Guckian Rabbitte, proposed that she receive a nomination.

However, Shannonside News is reporting that at this afternoon’s meeting, nine councillors voted against this – seven were in favour and there was one abstention and one absence.

In Offaly, it’s a very important moment for Sheridan.

Fine Gael councillors told Sheridan following his address that they will be voting against his nomination.

Fianna Fáil has a majority on the council and it could also move to block his nomination.

“I would just ask that you don’t block me, and don’t abstain and let me compete,” Sheridan told councillors.

“I am not asking for your support, I’m not asking for your vote, I am asking that you do not block me.”

Cathaoirleach of the council, John Leahy, pleaded with the council to not block his nomination.

He earlier told Midlands 103 that while he is undecided who he will vote for in the actual election, he will certainly vote to allow Sheridan on the ballot.

“I’m going to give an independent and an underdog the opportunity to be on the ballot,” he said.

The council is currently adjourned.

Offaly County Council will not nominate Gareth Sheridan, in what is a big blow for his candidacy.

A Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil led proposal to back no candidate was carried by 11 votes to 5.

The Cathaoirleach expressed his admiration for Sheridan after his hopes of getting on the ballot have all but ended.

Leahy says there should be a debate and review of candidates being “blocked” by local authorities. 

Gareth Sheridan had been gunning for Meath, Offaly and Louth.

However, he has fallen short in both Meath and Offaly, with Louth councillors meeting later this evening.

‘It’s over’

After missing out on Offaly’s nomination, Gareth Sheridan’s campaign team has conceded to our political correspondent Jane Matthews that the businessman has no path forward to getting the four required council votes.

A spokesperson for Gareth Sheridan tells @thejournal_ie “It’s over.”

Having failed to secure a nomination from Offaly Council, Sheridan’s team have conceded it’s the end of the line for his bid for the Áras.

— Jane Matthews (@janeematthews) September 22, 2025

Cork County Council

A vote is on the way in Cork County Council, where Maria Steen, William P Allen and Kieran McCarthy are the options for councillors.

It was notable that Danny Collins, and Independent Ireland councillor and brother of the party’s senior TD Michael Collins, was among those seconding Steen. The conservative campaigner has been seeking the backing of the party’s TDs to gain her nominations in the Oireachtas route.

Cork County Council result

That vote has seen the council decide not to back any candidate for the presidential election.

Out of 50 councillors, 26 members voted against endorsing either Maria Steen, Kieran McCarthy or William P Allen.

A runoff between the top two candidates could have been taken place if the majority had not.

Steen received 11 votes, McCarthy nine and Allen four.

The result saw cries of “disgraceful decision” by Peter O’Donoghue, an Independent from Fermoy, who blamed Fine Gael and other parties for the result. “Democracy is gone in this country,” O’Donoghue shouted before the chairman intervened.

Clare County Council

The latest council to opt against nominating any candidate for president is Clare County Council.

Five prospective candidates had made their case to councillors: Sarah Louise Mulligan, Gerben Uunk, Searlait Ní Chianáin, Diarmaid Mulcahy and Dr Cora Stack.

Sheridan pulls out of Louth meeting

Gareth Sheridan has withdrawn from attending Louth County Council’s meeting this evening after his campaign conceded the race.

There was uncertainty over whether the 36-year-old businessman would be allowed to present at the meeting as he had missed the deadline for having his documentation submitted to the local authority.

Sheridan had hoped to be picking up the final two nominations from councils today, only to be dealt one setback after another at meetings in Meath and Offaly.

A member of Sheridan’s backroom team, who was speaking to The Journal in the last few minutes, admitted that this morning’s defeat by a single vote in Meath had “taken the wind out of our sails” right before Sheridan had to next present to Offaly councillors, where he suffered another defeat.

Limerick City and County Council

Councillors have voted not to nominate anyone for the presidential election.

According to the Limerick Leader, the four candidates who were considered for nomination were Maria Steen, Kieran McCarthy, Gerben Uunk and Dr Donnacha MacGabhann.

None of the candidates were successful.

Gareth Sheridan has said “that’s the end of the journey now” in a video posted to his Instagram. He had earlier conceded that his campaign to get onto the ballot was over after losing out on councils in Meath and Offaly.

“It started off positive – it was kind of a make or break day for us,” he said. After losing out on the two councils – Meath by just one vote – he said it was “numerically impossible” for him to get onto the ballot.

“It’s not the end of the messaging, it’s not the end of what we’re trying to champion and bring awareness to. I think that’s important.”

He said he hoped his journey would encourage young people to become involved in politics “and have a say in the direction of an Ireland we want to build together”.

He thanked his family, friends, and the councillors he had support from. 

He “wouldn’t change a thing” about his campaign journey, he said, and added (rather cryptically) that tomorrow begins day number one of his “next challenge” which will be revealed then.

In Leitrim, Independent councillor Irene Guckian-Rabbitte has said she is “very disappointed” that Leitrim won’t be backing a presidential candidate.

Cllr. Rabbitte had been one of three councillors to propose that Maria Steen receive backing from Leitrim.

“People deserve a choice of candidates, as the President is meant for the people of this country, and it is up to us, the people, to vote for the person we think is the most suitable for the job. Choice is so important ” Cllr. Rabbitte added.

Cllr. Rabbitte had previously said that Steen “stood out considerably” from other candidates who had sought nomination by Leitrim County Council.

Kilkenny County Council

Kilkenny County Council has voted against nominating a presidential candidate. 

The Kilkenny People reported that councillors voted 18-3 in favour of not nominating a candidate. The council route is closed.

Louth County Council is due to begin its special meeting in the next minute or so, with Nick Delehanty and Keith McGrory the only candidates due to present after Sheridan admitted defeat earlier today.

Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin this evening responded to comments made by Gareth Sheridan in yesterday’s Sunday Independent.

In a column, Sheridan said he believed that Fianna Fáil was actively working to block his nomination to become a candidate for the election.

Fine Gael had issued a diktat to its councillors stating they must vote against the nomination of Independents, while Fianna Fáil was more relaxed, and said it was only encouraging its councillors not to back anyone outside the party’s candidate.

Sheridan enjoyed some support from Fianna Fáil councillors in his unsuccessful journey to make it onto the ballot.

Speaking on RTÉ News, Gavin said Fianna Fáil was not obstructing the path for Sheridan but that he was proud to represent the party in the election.

“I think each candidate needs to advocate for the candidacy to get the votes in different county councils. Fianna Fáil don’t control the county councils. Fianna Fáil councillors can vote who they wish for.”

Gavin also said he was “surprised” by Catherine Connolly’s comments on Hamas earlier today.

The Independent Áras hopeful criticised British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for saying Hamas should be excluded from any future Palestinian government, arguing that the group is “part of the fabric of the Palestinian people”.

Gavin said: “Catherine did acknowledge the atrocities and horrific crimes that Hamas committed over two years ago, I think the bigger picture here is today that Great Britain recognised Palestine and the two-state solution.”

He said the question of whether Hamas should have a role in a future Palestinian government is a matter for the people of Palestine.

“I think Hamas hasn’t been good to the Palestinian people. Ultimately, it will be up to the Palestinian people in that two-state solution to vote and to recommend who represents them.”

Following the trend today, Westmeath County Council has also voted not to nominate a presidential candidate.

The Westmeath Independent has reported that the council voted 12-5 against nominating Nick Delehanty, despite a proposal from Independent Cllr Paul Hogan.

Delehanty emerged as the only candidate to be considered after 11 hopefuls addressed the council last week.

Now, only two councils have yet to make their decision on nominations – Louth and Donegal.

Catherine Connolly’s campaign launch has officially kicked off in Smithfield’s Complex venue.

A number of left-leaning politicians joined her on stage for the launch, including Paul Murphy, Eileen Flynn, Holly Cairns, Mary Lou McDonald, Marie Sherlock, and Roderic O’Gorman.

A number of left-leaning party leaders pictured at Connolly's campaign launch.

Connolly, an independent candidate, is being backed by a coalition of left-leaning parties.

The packed-out event is scheduled to run until 8.30pm, with contributions from the politicians on stage, Connolly herself, and a lineup of musicians.

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has spoken on stage at Catherine Connolly’s campaign launch, wearing the appropriate merchandise for the evening.

Holly Cairns speaking at Catherine Connolly's campaign launch.

SInn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald emphasised that Connolly will be “a president who champions Irish unity in our time”.

“Reunification is the very best way to unlock all of Ireland’s incredible potential and build our new future together,” McDonald said.

Mary Lou McDonald.

She also praised Connolly’s previous work on speaking out for the Palestinian people, as well as her previous campaigning on Irish neutrality.

“Catherine will speak out for Ireland’s place in the world as the defender of human rights, of peace of democracy and diplomacy, and she will defend our proud tradition of military neutrality,” McDonald said.

“Let me tell you this. Jim Gavin won’t do that. Heather Humphreys won’t do that.”

On Sinn Féin’s backing, McDonald said that left-leaning parties are “uniting consciously” to “take on the stifling, broken politics of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael that has done so much damage.

“We come together to demonstrate that a better way is possible and available.”

Catherine Connolly is up now, speaking to crowds gathered at her campaign launch. 

Connolly said that she will speak a little bit about her family, despite she and her family’s private natures. Now, she has said that those at the launch are not just there to support her, but that this marks a “movement” of people who oppose genocide, homelessness, and the failing of the health system.

She said she is “responding to what people see in me” by running for president.

Connolly said she learned social justice from her family home. Growing up in a “working class” area in Galway, she spoke about her connections in local groups. She joined the Order of Malta as a young person.

It may have taken Mary Lou McDonald some time to back Catherine Connolly’s run for president, but the two politicians seem to have cultivated a friendship of sorts in the few days since.

Speaking to those gathered, Connolly paused to say she’d have some water, to which McDonald rose and brought her a glass.

“I don’t mind if you’ve tasted it first,” Connolly said.

“For your safety,” the Sinn Féin leader replied, causing Connolly almost spit out a gulp as the room laughed.

And that’s the evening wrapped up – an end to the council route, and potentially a three-horse race for the presidential election. 

Maria Steen is now the only potential fourth candidate in next month’s election. We’ll know by Wednesday whether she has secured enough nominations from members of the Oireachtas to make it onto the ballot. 

Failing that, the Irish people will have only three options: Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin, or Heather Humphreys.

Thanks for following our coverage throughout the day, and good night.