{"id":9646,"date":"2025-08-19T15:41:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T15:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/9646\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T15:41:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T15:41:07","slug":"heather-humphreys-takes-large-lead-over-sean-kelly-in-race-to-seek-fine-gael-presidential-election-nomination-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/9646\/","title":{"rendered":"Heather Humphreys takes large lead over Se\u00e1n Kelly in race to seek Fine Gael presidential election nomination \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Fine Gael<\/a> minister Heather Humphreys<\/a> has taken a large lead over Ireland South MEP Se\u00e1n Kelly<\/a> in the battle to seek the party\u2019s nomination to contest the upcoming presidential election<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both Ms Humphreys and Mr Kelly announced their intention to run for president for Fine Gael on Tuesday morning. <\/p>\n

Each will require the backing of 20 members of the parliamentary party, as well as 25 councillors and five members of the executive council. <\/p>\n

By Tuesday afternoon, Ms Humphreys had at least 29 nominations from TDs and senators, and was widely expected to have over 30 by the end of the day. So far, Mr Kelly has the backing of at least six parliamentary party members. <\/p>\n

The 29 parliamentary party declarations for for Heather Humphreys so far includes ministers Peter Burke and Patrick O\u2019Donovan, junior ministers Neale Richmond, Hildegarde Naughton, Colm Brophy and Emer Higgins, TDs Emer Currie, John Paul O\u2019Shea, David Maxwell, Jerry Buttimer, Paula Butterly, Grace Boland, Frank Feighan, Naoise O\u2019Muir\u00ed, Catherine Callaghan, Alan Dillon, Keira Keogh, James Geoghegan, Colm Burke, John Clendennan and Micheal Carrigy, Barry Ward and senators Sean Kyne, Maria Byrne, Nikki Bradley, Joe O\u2019Reilly, Mark Duffy, Cathal Byrne, Manus Boyle. <\/p>\n

Joe Cooney, the Fine Gael TD for Clare, said as a Munster man and a \u201cGAA man\u201d he would be proudly supporting Mr Kelly. So far Mr Kelly also has the support of Senators Michael Kennelly and Garrett Ahearn and TDs Noel McCarthy, Brian Brennan and Michael Murphy.<\/p>\n

Announcing her candidacy on Tuesday, Ms Humphreys said she had been \u201cgenuinely humbled\u201d by the support in recent days.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have decided to go for it,\u201d she told the Joe Finnegan Show on Cavan-Monaghan radio station Northern Sound. <\/p>\n

She said it was \u201cfair\u201d to ask why she had changed her mind, having ruled herself out of the contest in May and saying she would be supporting her \u201cfriend\u201d Ms McGuinness instead.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut as we know, everything has changed with Mairead\u2019s news last week and I would just like to wish her well in her recovery.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ms Humphreys said she was a \u201cbit burned out\u201d and was probably \u201crunning on empty\u201d when she decided to step down from politics at the end of last year, having sat at Cabinet for a decade. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve said to myself more than once: \u2018you could do a bit more Heather\u2019,\u201d she said. \u201cReally, I\u2019ve had a good rest, the tank is full again. And you know timing is a funny thing because I have never felt as good about taking on the challenge.\u201d <\/p>\n

[\u00a0\u00c1ras race picks up speed as Humphreys and Kelly join Fine Gael fieldOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n

Her announcement came a little over an hour after Mr Kelly, a former GAA president, said he also intends to seek the party\u2019s nomination. He said he believes that there should be a contest between him and Ms Humphreys. <\/p>\n

She and Mr Kelly had previously ruled themselves out of the contest, when it was believed that Ms McGuinness would be Fine Gael\u2019s candidate. <\/p>\n

Ms Humphreys in May ruled herself out of running for the presidency, citing her decision to leave politics altogether at the last general election. \u201cI said at that time that I wanted to spend more time with the family and that my time in public life was over,\u201d she said at that time.<\/p>\n

In July, Mr Kelly also ruled himself out of the contest. He said that the presidency was largely a ceremonial role. \u201cYou don\u2019t have that much power or influence even though you can dress it up whatever way you like and I like to be involved politically,\u201d he said then. <\/p>\n

The MEP appeared to walk these comments back on Tuesday, saying that his comment \u201cwas in comparison to presidents around the world\u201d who have executive powers. \u201cBut I think actually there\u2019s a huge potential in the job, it is the highest honour in Ireland.\u201d <\/p>\n

Mr Kelly said having spent time in Ireland over the last few weeks, he understood that he had grassroots support as many people had told him they were disappointed he was not running for the \u00c1ras.<\/p>\n

\n

In the days following Mairead McGuinness’ unfortunate withdrawal as Fine Gael’s candidate for President of Ireland on health grounds, I have reflected and given serious consideration to the possibility of seeking the @FineGael<\/a> nomination.<\/p>\n

After discussing it with my family and\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Se\u00e1n Kelly MEP (@SeanKellyMEP) August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mr Kelly said he believes Fine Gael\u2019s base would like to see a contest for its presidential nomination as they are good for parties and for democracies. <\/p>\n

Minister for Culture Patrick O\u2019Donovan on Tuesday said he would be supporting Ms Humphreys. He said she had \u201call of the qualities and attributes\u201d needed to be president. \u201cThere isn\u2019t a parish or a crossroads in this country that she hasn\u2019t touched in some way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Junior ministers Hildegarde Naughton and Emer Higgins, senator Manus Boyle and TDs John Clendennen and Micheal Carrigy have also said that the former minister will have their support, as have Minister of State Neale Richmond and Senator Maria Byrne. <\/p>\n

Fine Gael TD Noel McCarthy on Tuesday endorsed Mr Kelly\u2019s candidacy. The Cork East deputy said Mr Kelly had done \u201cmarvellous work\u201d in his time as an MEP, highlighted by him polling 125,000 first-preference votes in last year\u2019s European election.<\/p>\n

Fine Gael senator and Kerryman Michael Kennelly also said he will be supporting Mr Kelly. \u201cHe\u2019s made a huge contribution for the people of Kerry and the people of Ireland in his role as an MEP. He\u2019s someone that has always stayed grounded, and that\u2019s a trait that the person who is going to fill the \u00c1ras will need,\u201d Mr Kennelly said. \u201cHe is a proud GAA man, he is a proud cultural man, he is a proud Irish speaker, he is a gem, he\u2019s been a real Kerry hero.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fine Gael Senator Cathal Byrne said he was backing Ms Humphreys and had already sent in nomination papers for her on Tuesday morning. \u201cI always found her very supportive of projects across Wexford, and she\u2019s visited so many parts of Wexford as a minister, and I always found her as somebody who, on those visits, displayed enormous empathy and a great connection to people,\u201d Mr Byrne said. <\/p>\n

Mark Duffy, a Fine Gael senator based in Mayo, said that he was also supporting Ms Humphreys. \u201cWith her proven leadership as Minister for Rural and Community Development and her deep commitment to public service, she has the vision and experience to serve Ireland with distinction,\u201d Mr Duffy said.<\/p>\n

Senator Joe O\u2019Reilly also told The Irish Times that he was supporting the former minister, as did Senator Sean Kyne and James Geoghegan, the Fine Gael TD for Dublin Bay South. Mr Geoghegan said she was a candidate of \u201cenormous integrity, and someone who understands as well as values the importance of community.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fine TD Alan Dillon is also backing Ms Humphreys, who he described as a \u201cstrong, grounded leader who connects with people across all divides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fine Gael senator Nikki Bradley and veteran TD Frank Feighan also confirmed they will be supporting Ms Humphreys, while Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said he is \u201chonoured\u201d to nominate Ms Humphreys, adding that \u201cwith over a decade in cabinet, she has shown real leadership, uniting communities and leaving a lasting impact nationwide.\u201d <\/p>\n

TDs Paula Butterly, David Maxwell and John Paul O\u2019Shea have all indicated their support for Ms Humphreys on social media, as has Senator Jerry Buttimer. <\/p>\n