FINE GAEL MEP Seán Kelly has withdrawn from the presidential race, saying it has become clear to him that he would not receive the necessary 20 votes from the parliamentary party.

Kelly said in a statement this afternoon that to receive the Fine Gael nomination would have been the greatest honour of his life.

He thanked those who had supported his bid for the nomination but conceded that it was not enough to get him over the line. 

“While I am of the view that a contest would be good and healthy for the party and was looking forward to one, unfortunately, after nearly two weeks of engagement, it is clear to me now that I will not be able to gather the required 20 nominations from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party to contest the selection process,” Kelly said.

*Statement regarding Irish Presidency*

Two weeks ago, I was pleased to put my name forward as a potential Fine Gael candidate to contest the upcoming Presidential Election, having been strongly encouraged to do so by grassroots members and local representatives. To have been…

— Seán Kelly MEP (@SeanKellyMEP) September 1, 2025

“I have therefore, reluctantly, decided to withdraw my name from the process.”

Kelly acknowledged that his decision to pull out “will come as a great disappointment to my supporters”, but that “unfortunately the ball didn’t bounce in my favour on this occasion”.

Kelly’s withdrawal paves a clear path for Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.