2025 Irish Presidential Election

Current Affairs
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Hanafin ‘open to conversation’ with FF on presidential run

HARRY McGEE

Political Correspondent

Former minister for education Mary Hanafin has said she would be open to having a conversation with Fianna FĂĄil about seeking a nomination to run in the presidential election.

Ms Hanafin, a former TD for DĂșn Laoghaire, said this weekend that many people from different aspects of life had raised the possibility with her.

“If Fianna Fáil wanted to have that conversation with me, I would be open to it,” she said.

She said the decision would be ultimately one for Taoiseach and Fianna FĂĄil leader MicheĂĄl Martin.

“It would be [up to] the party leader to decide if he wants to have that conversation with me,” she said.

A native of Co Tipperary and a former schoolteacher in the Dominican College, Sion Hill, Dublin, Ms Hanafin was first elected to the DĂĄil in 1997.

She was appointed minister for education and science by then taoiseach Bertie Ahern in September 2004, having been government chief whip from 2002 to 2004.

She subsequently served as minister of social protection and as minister for arts, tourism and sports. She was deputy leader of the party for a period of five weeks at the start of 2011, appointed by Mr Martin after he succeeded Brian Cowen as leader.

Ms Hanafin lost her seat in the 2011 election and failed to regain it in 2016.

She was elected to DĂșn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in 2014 and 2019, serving as cathaoirleach between 2022 and 2023.

General election

In 2020, she again stood in the general election but was not successful. Her running mate, Cormac Devlin, regained the seat the party had lost in 2011.

Ms Hanafin’s husband Eamon Leahy, a senior counsel, died suddenly in 2003 at the age of 46. She has started practising as a barrister in recent years.

A number of Fianna FĂĄil politicians have been mentioned as possible candidates for the presidential election including Mr Ahern and MEPs Barry Andrews (a former constituency colleague of Ms Hanafin’s) and Cynthia NĂ­ MhurchĂș. It is unlikely, though, that either of the MEPs will decide to run.

Fianna FĂĄil has not had a candidate for the presidency for almost 30 years. Mary McAleese was its candidate in 1997 and served two seven-year terms in office.

The party decided not to run a candidate in 2011 and supported the incumbent Michael D Higgins when he sought a second term in 2018.

503

We used to be a proper country

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504

Da Bert, Hanafin, and o’cuiv would be an interesting rumble with one or two others to throw their hat in the FF ring


505

Might as well put John O’Donoghue and Charlie McCreevy in as well

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506

The snollygosters are circling.

507

:face_with_raised_eyebrow:

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508

He could well run under the free speech banner so. Clever move

509

Der Kaiser is the man to bring back common sense

510

Thought he was dead there for a second.

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511

He wouldn’t have a hope. He’s obviously a very intelligent man but zero charisma and not very likeable. He always struggled to get elected as a TD despite his high profile.

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512

He’s an arrogant pompous populist windbag dinosaur and was one of the worst performing ministers for justice in living memory.

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513

Tell us what you really think!

You’re not wrong in fairness.

514

Announce Enda!

515

Enda is the best candidate, but he has done his service to the state and has never shown a desire to return. We need to let him be to live out his days in peace. He saved the country once. He shouldnt be asked to again.