Campaign in upheaveal as Gavin withdraws

In yet another twist in the 2025 presidential election, Fianna Fáil’s candidate Jim Gavin has withdrawn from the race.

In August, Fine Gael’s prospective nominee, Mairead McGuinness, withdrew from the race on health grounds and was replaced by former Minister Heather Humphreys.

Now, Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s decision to back former Dublin GAA boss Jim Gavin over party veteran Billy Kelleher has backfired in the most spectacular of fashion.

On Saturday, the Irish Independent published a story which accused Gavin of not paying a tenant €3300 they were owed.

Gavin was renting out a Northside property to a tenant, and The Irish Independent alleged that Gavin did not pay the tenant back.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Gavin said, “recent days have given me cause to reflect.”

“I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter.”

He said, “I have also thought long and hard about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the well-being of my family and friends; taking all these considerations on board, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family.

“Throughout this campaign, I have been humbled by the encouragement and kind words I received.  So many people have gone out of their way to support me in so many ways, and I would like to express my sincere thanks to them. I truly hope you understand my decision and do not feel let down,” he said in the statement.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin used significant political capital in picking Gavin for the Fianna Fáil candidacy, with Gavin securing the nomination by a secret ballot which he won by 41 votes to 29.

It is understood that the Dublin wing of the party lobbied heavily for Gavin over Kelleher, the Cork MEP.

Dubin West TD and Minister Jack Chambers was hired as Director of Elections for the now-failed bid.

With less than 3 weeks until polling day and the ballot papers printed, Gavin’s name will remain on the ballot on October 24th.

Gavin had taken part in a debate with fellow candidates Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly on Sunday afternoon on RTÉ’s The Week In Politics.

In a statement, Connolly said, “anyone who seeks to make Ireland a better place through public service should be commended; Jim Gavin has made the right decision for himself and his family. I wish him well.”

Humphreys state,d “Jim Gavin has made an enormous contribution to our country. He served in the Defence Forces with distinction and the groundbreaking changes he pioneered in Gaelic Football are a legacy which will stand the test of time for all those who love our national games.”

“While I know this must have been a very difficult decision, it is clearly one Jim has made with the best interests of his family at heart. That is something all of us can relate to. I want to wish Jim and his family all the very best for the future.”

The latest twist in the race now means that just two candidates will appear on the ballot on October 24th and the next President of Ireland will be a woman.

Leftist Galwegian independent Catherine Connolly was ahead in the latest opinion poll published in the Sunday Independent yesterday, with Connolly on 32% in the Ireland Thinks poll, with Humphreys on 23%.

Gavin was on 15%, with the article stating that Gavin’s transfers would give Connolly the edge and secure the Presidency for the Galwegian.