Garreth Sheridan among small group of Presidential hopefuls entertained in Laois council

Just a handful of aspiring Presidents of Ireland have sought to speak with Laois County Councillors in an effort to win their support for nominations to the presidential election. 

While the list of speakers invited to address politicians in other counties has run into double figures, just seven candidates were on the agenda to address Laois councillors at a special meeting held on September 15 in Portlaoise.

The highest profile among them was Gareth Sheridan. He claimed, when launching his campaign in August, that he had the support of Laois County Council.

However, a senior councillor quickly quashed this, claiming that the Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael controlling majority would not back him.

Mr Sheridan appeared to have won the support of Independent Laois councillor Aisling Moran who attended an event with him at the Tullamore Show.

Mr Sheridan won the support of Kerry County Council in the hours before speaking in Laois.

Little is known of the six other candidates scheduled to speak in County Hall. They are:

• Charlie Keddy
• Keith McGrory
• Professor Dr Joseph Chikelue Obi
• Lucy Ann O'Leary
• Abbas Ali O'Shea
• Gerben Uunk

Laois County Council backed Gemma O'Doherty at the last Presidential Election but she did not win three other councils necessary.   

There are 19 councillors on Laois County Council. Fianna Fáil has six representatives, while Fine Gael has five members. There is one Labour councillor.

One of the independents supports the FF/ FG coalition. One of the two ex-Sinn Féin members is the wife of Brian Stanley TD who is campaigning for Catherine Connolly.

Ben Brennan, of the three other independent councillors, proposed the nomination of Ms O'Doherty in 2018.

Conor McGregor had been on an early list to speak to Laois councillors as had Peter Casey, runner-up in the last presidential election, Maria Steen and Dr Cora M Stack.