Sheridan Gains Second Local Authority Nomination for Presidential Run
Social Democrats TD Gareth Sheridan has secured a nomination from a second local authority in his bid for the irish presidency, according to reporting by The Irish Times. Following a nomination from Fingal County Council, Sheridan received support from Dún laoghaire-Rathdown County Council today.
This brings the number of confirmed candidates to four, including Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, autonomous Peter Casey, and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin.
Sheridan requires nominations from four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members to formally enter the presidential race. He previously ran for the presidency in 2011. The election is scheduled to take place on [Date of Election – not provided in source].
The news comes amid ongoing controversies for other political figures. Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes, recently returned from suspension, remains a party member despite a past ”blackface” incident – wearing brown make-up while dressed as Barack Obama at a Halloween party 16 years ago when he was president of the Students’ Union in University College Cork. Hayes issued an apology on Monday. He was previously suspended last December for providing misleading information regarding the sale of shares in Palantir, a company linked to the Israeli military, but was readmitted to the parliamentary party over the summer.
Separately, The Irish Times reported that Jim gavin, the Fianna Fáil presidential candidate and former Dublin Gaelic football manager, received an average of €5,000 a year in expenses during his tenure with the Dublin team, which spanned from 2012 to 2019 and saw the team achieve a record five All-Ireland titles in a row. Fianna Fáil stated the expenses were fully vouched and in line with GAA and public service rates.