Presidential nominees to meet with Council on Friday as McGregor withdraws from the race

Fifteen submissions from Presidential nominees wishing to present to the local authority, were received by Waterford City & County Council by the closing date for submissions last Friday, September 12.

A special Presidential Election Meeting of the local authority will take place in Dungarvan Civic Offices next Friday, September 19, at 2pm.

At that meeting the 15 nominees will be expected to give five-minute presentations to the members in the hope of winning support in their bid to become the next Irish President.

A spokesperson for Waterford Council confirmed that 15 submissions were received by the closing date and those submissions included candidate manifestos.

The 15 candidates who have expressed their desire to meet with the Council include: Delores Cahill, Peter Casey, Nick Delehanty, Gearoid Duffy, Dr Donncha MacGabhann, Dr Kieran McCarthy, Lorna McCormack, Keith McGrory, Catherine Morrissey Smyth, Sarah Louise Mulligan, Joseph Obi, Lucy Anne O’Leary, David Parnell, Dr Cora Stack and Gerben Uunk.

Regardless of the number of candidates presenting at the Special Meeting, the Council can endorse only one. 

The spokesperson said that once a nomination is made, no further nomination can be made by the Council. 

"However, the Council is not required to put forward a nominee," she said.

"It is entirely at the discretion of the members whether to nominate anyone," she added.

Attendance in the public gallery will be restricted as priority will be given to candidates and their representatives.

On Monday, former MMA fighter, Conor McGregor, announced he was withdrawing from the Presidential election race. 

In an online post on 'X' he said his intentions to run were 'sincere and genuine' and described himself as a 'passionate Gael' who takes great pride in his country.