Presidential election hopefuls making bid for Limerick council nomination
Members of local authority to confirm if they will endorse a candidate on Monday
AT LEAST 14 would-be candidates are putting their case to councillors this Wednesday to be nominated to contest the Presidential Election.
In this number are two people who are based in Limerick, plus hopefuls from Cork, Dublin, Donegal, Kerry and Kilkenny.
In order to contest the Presidential Election, set for Friday, October 24, hopefuls need either 20 members of the Oireachtas nominating them, or at least four local authorities.
As a result of this, would-be candidates have been carrying out tours of councils around the country seeking the backing of local authorities.
And this Wednesday, it’s the turn of Limerick City and County Council to host a meeting.
At the behind-closed-doors gathering, each person will have the opportunity to make their case for a nomination.
Then there will be five minutes of questions-and-answers for each. It will be next Monday, at the regular full meeting of Limerick City and County Council that it will be decided if the local authority will nominate any person. This will be held in public.
Knockainey man Dr Donnacha MacGabhann is seeking a place on next month’s ballot.
A former art-teacher and assistant principal of John the Baptist School in Hospital, Dr MacGabhann says if he is elected, he will introduce a range of initiatives based on the Constitution.
Also flying the Limerick flag is Ashford man Gerben Uunk.
Born in the Netherlands, he is the founder and secretary of the Party for Animal Welfare.
He contested three elections in Limerick last year - the mayoral contest, the local election and the General Election.
Twelve more people are down to attend this Wednesday’s meeting, but council has said there could be more, with not all confirming their availability this Tuesday.
Others who will address councillors are William P Allen (West Cork), Tony Corrigan, Nick Delehanty (Dublin), Cllr Kieran McCarthy (Cork), Keith McGrory (Donegal) and Diarmaid Mulcahy (Galway). They will be joined by Conor O’Brien and Charlotte Keenan, Catherine Morrissey (Kilkenny), Walter-Ryan Purcell (Cork), Dr Cora Stack (Dublin) and Maria Steen (Dublin).
Earlier this week, Conor McGregor ruled out a run for Áras an Uachtaráin.