Former European Commissioner and Justice Minister Dr Maire Geoghegan Quinn has confirmed that she will not be running in this year’s presidential election.
There was speculation last week that Ms Geoghegan Quinn was being considered by Fianna Fail as the party candidtat who would give them the best chance of success in this winter’s poll.
However, the Galway native has made it clear that she has no interest in running for the Áras. Speaking to the Galway Advertiser, she said that she retired from public life almost a decade ago and has been enjoying a private life since.
Dr Ma?ire Geoghegan-Quinn is Chairperson of U?dara?s na hOllscoile and is currently leading the search for a new president for University of Galway. An announcement on this is expected before the autumn.
As it stands, Deputy Catherine Connolly is the sole Galwayperson to have declared a candidacy. North Galway businessman Declan Ganley is believed to be considering running, but as of yet, has not declared.
Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness leads the field in a list of potential presidential electioncandidates, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll, though the results show nobody has yet caught the public imagination.
Asked who they would probably vote for in the presidential election, 14 per cent of respondents named Ms McGuinness, who secured her party’s nomination this week after emerging as the only potential candidate.
Ms McGuinness is followed by Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who announced her campaign this week, on 9 per cent, and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald on 8 per cent.
Mairead McGuinness is the current even money favourite with the oddsmakers after securing the Fine Gael nomination.
Catherine Connolly remains 5/2 second favourite, with Mary Lou McDonald a 4/1 shot after she refused to rule herself out of the picture when quizzed earlier this month.
