Who is Jim Gavin? The Fianna Fáil candidate for the 2025 Presidential Election

Fianna Fáil has selected former Dublin GAA manager Jim Gavin as its candidate for the 2025 Presidential Election. 

A special meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party took place at Leinster House this Tuesday, where TDs, Senators and MEPs heard pitches from Gavin and longstanding Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher.

A secret ballot vote then took place, with Gavin amassing 41 votes to Kelleher’s 29 to secure the Fianna Fáil nomination. 

Before the meeting, Gavin already had the public support of a number of key figures in Fianna Fáil, including the Taoiseach Michael Martin, who described him as “an extraordinary, accomplished person.”

Who is Jim Gavin and how has he risen to prominence in Ireland’s largest political party? 

Gavin is best known in GAA circles for his time in charge of the Dublin senior football team, which he managed from 2012 to 2019. 

In that time, he became the most successful manager in the county’s history, leading the Dubs to six All-Ireland titles, five Allianz League titles and seven Leinster Championships.

Several months after he departed from the role of Dublin manager, Gavin received an honorary doctorate from Dublin City University and in 2020 he was made a Freeman of the City of Dublin - the highest civic honour the Dublin City Council can bestow.

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Born in Clondalkin, County Dublin, Jim Gavin joined the Irish Defence Forces as a cadet at the age of 18.

He went on to serve in the Air Corps for 20 years, rising to the rank of Chief Flying Instructor. 

He also spent time as Chief of Military Aviation with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), where he oversaw air assets and coordinated international support.

Gavin, who is married with two children, retired from the Defence Forces in 2011, but often cited his military experience as a key factor in his success as a Gaelic football manager.

His public service career began when he started working for the Irish Aviation Authority as a Director of People and Operations. He later rose to the title of Chief Operations Officer, making him responsible for air safety across the country. 

In 2022, he was appointed by the Government to chair the Dublin Citizens' Assembly to garner views and to make recommendations on proposals to create a directly elected mayor for Dublin.

Since 2023, Gavin has served as the chairperson of the North-East Inner City Taskforce, which aims to enhance services for disadvantaged communities in Dublin. 

In February 2024, the six-time All-Ireland winning manager was appointed chairman of the Football Review Committee (FRC) which was established by the GAA to reform the rules of football with many of its recommendations being introduced for this year's championship. 

In August, a number of Fianna Fáil members approached Gavin and asked if he would consider running as a candidate in the 2025 Presidential Election. 

Having considered the request, on August 30, he formally wrote to members of the parliamentary party to formally seek the party’s nomination for candidacy.

Voting in the presidential election takes place on Friday, October 24.