Mairead McGuinness and Miriam O'Callaghan are among the five current favorites to be the next President of Ireland, according to Irish bookmaker BoyleSports.
McGuinness (5/1), a Fine Gael politician who currently serves as the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, is the current favorite on BoyleSports.
O'Callaghan (12/1) rounds out the top five favorites on BoyleSports. The longtime RTÉ presenter denied speculation back in 2010 that she was going to run in the 2011 election.
Ireland has only had two female Presidents - Mary Robinson (1990-1997) and Mary McAleese (1997 - 2011).
Elsewhere among the favorites on BoyleSports is Fergus Finlay (7/1), the former CEO of Irish charity Bernardos who was previously a senior member of the Irish Labour Party.
Ireland's Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin (8/1) is also among the top favorites. Martin recently refused to rule himself out of a run for the presidency but said he desires to lead Fianna Fáil into the upcoming general election and serve another term as Taoiseach.
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the former leader of Fianna Fáil, is currently fourth-favorite at 11/1. Ahern, 72, returned to Fianna Fáil in 2023 and has repeatedly refused to rule himself out of a run for the presidency.
John Finucane, a Sinn Féin MP for North Belfast, is at 14/1 while Seán Kelly, Fine Gael South MEP and former President of the GAA, is at 22/1.
Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor, who has been outspoken about Irish politics on social media, has seen his odds drift from 14/1 to 25/1 in recent weeks after announcing plans to return to the Octagon in 2024.
Meanwhile, former "Late Late Show" presenter Ryan Tubridy is seen as an outside bet at 66/1 along with former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and outspoken sports pundit Joe Brolly.
(BoyleSports)
Michael D. Higgins, who was first elected President in 2011, will complete his second term as president in October 2025. The 82-year-old was re-elected in a landslide victory in 2018 and has used his time in office to address issues such as social equality, anti-racism, and reconciliation.
To be eligible for election as President of Ireland, the candidate must be an Irish citizen who is 35 or older. The candidate must be nominated either by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or at least four local authorities. A former or retiring Presidents can nominate themselves.
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