Overview

• Official nominations closed with three candidates on the October 24 ballot: independent Catherine Connolly, Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
• Connolly enters the race backed by Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and the Greens, positioning her as the unified left candidate.
• Independent hopeful Maria Steen finished with 18 Oireachtas signatures, two short of the 20 required, as the local authority route produced no successful nominations.
• Humphreys and Gavin filed their papers last Friday, while Connolly lodged hers on Tuesday and said she welcomes scrutiny after questions on her comments about Hamas and on political violence.
• The campaign shifts to a month of nationwide events and policy debate, unfolding as politicians highlight security concerns and call for a calmer tone in public discourse.