FORMER DUBLIN FOOTBALL manager Jim Gavin will be Fianna Fáil’s presidential election candidate after winning today’s secret ballot of the parliamentary party.
Gavin received 41 votes to MEP Billy Kelleher’s 29.
Voting among Fianna Fáil TDs, Senators and MEPs took place this morning in Leinster House, with both candidates making a 10-minute pitch to the members ahead of the secret ballot.
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The 29 votes for Kelleher today is significantly higher than the six public endorsements he entered the room with, meaning that he managed to sway a large portion of the parliamentary party.
The relatively close result does not bode well for leader Micheál Martin, who has faced criticism for his backing of Gavin and how Fianna Fáil’s presidential process has been handled.
Gavin is best known for his famous five-in-a-row glory with the Dublin football team between 2015 and 2019.
He is an ex-Air Corp Commandant and current operations director for the Irish Aviation Authority.
In recent months, he has been hailed as a football champion once more, after chairing a committee that changed the rules of the game.
He chaired a Citizens’ Assembly on Dublin’s directly elected Mayor and the North-East Inner City Taskforce in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Many Fianna Fáil TDs who spoke to The Journal ahead of the vote today said they feel that they know little about Jim Gavin, who will now have to introduce himself to both the party and the electorate.
Written by Jane Matthews and posted on TheJournal.ie
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All-Ireland winning manager Jim Gavin is Fianna Fáil's Presidential candidate
FORMER DUBLIN FOOTBALL manager Jim Gavin will be Fianna Fáil’s presidential election candidate after winning today’s secret ballot of the parliamentary party.
Gavin received 41 votes to MEP Billy Kelleher’s 29.
Voting among Fianna Fáil TDs, Senators and MEPs took place this morning in Leinster House, with both candidates making a 10-minute pitch to the members ahead of the secret ballot.
The 29 votes for Kelleher today is significantly higher than the six public endorsements he entered the room with, meaning that he managed to sway a large portion of the parliamentary party.
The relatively close result does not bode well for leader Micheál Martin, who has faced criticism for his backing of Gavin and how Fianna Fáil’s presidential process has been handled.
Gavin is best known for his famous five-in-a-row glory with the Dublin football team between 2015 and 2019.
He is an ex-Air Corp Commandant and current operations director for the Irish Aviation Authority.
In recent months, he has been hailed as a football champion once more, after chairing a committee that changed the rules of the game.
He chaired a Citizens’ Assembly on Dublin’s directly elected Mayor and the North-East Inner City Taskforce in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Many Fianna Fáil TDs who spoke to The Journal ahead of the vote today said they feel that they know little about Jim Gavin, who will now have to introduce himself to both the party and the electorate.
Written by Jane Matthews and posted on TheJournal.ie
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Aras 2025 aras 25 Billy Kelleher Fianna Fáil Irish Presidential Election 2025 Jim Gavin