LATEST: Tipperary Fine Gael councillor defends Sheridan vote as 'protecting a core democratic principle'

Tipperary County Council has nominated 36-year-old businessman Gareth Sheridan to contest the upcoming Presidential Election, following a day of lively presentations at the Nenagh civic offices on Tuesday, September 16.

Of the twelve hopefuls scheduled to appear before councillors, nine made their case, each allotted five minutes to present and a ten-minute Q&A. While the field included artists, historians, and cultural figures, Sheridan and Cork Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy emerged as the strongest contenders.

Following the presentations from nine candidates who presented on the day, the vote to nominate a candidate was proposed by Cllr Seamie Morris and seconded by Cllr Liam Browne. However, Cllr Michael Smith and Cllr Willie Kennedy opposed the move, and the council first voted on whether to nominate anyone at all. It quickly became apparent that councillors from Government parties favoured not putting forward a nominee, unsurprising, as their parties had already selected their own candidates. That motion was narrowly defeated by 20 votes to 19, clearing the way for a nomination.

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Among those exercising their constitutional role and straying from their party consensus was Fine Gael’s Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan, speaking to Tipperary Live, she clarified her decision:

“As a member of Tipperary County Council, I recently exercised my constitutional duty under Article 12 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, which gives local authority members the important power to nominate candidates to contest the office of President. The framers of our Constitution inserted this provision to ensure that any citizen of Ireland could have the opportunity to put their name before the people for election to the highest office of the land.

“In supporting Mr. Sheridan’s nomination, I was not expressing a political preference for his candidacy. Rather, I was protecting a core democratic principle — that local councillors, as direct representatives of the people, must exercise this constitutional responsibility in good faith. To restrict this would undermine the democratic intent of our Constitution and the powers entrusted to the 950 councillors nationwide.

“As President of a national representative body and a central member of the Government’s Local Democracy Taskforce, I feel a particular duty to safeguard the voice and authority of local government. Democracy is strongest when it is inclusive, and when all qualified candidates can be put before the people to decide.

“That said, I want to be absolutely clear: I am a proud member of Fine Gael and I will be standing full square behind our party’s candidate, Heather Humphreys. Heather has served the people of Ireland with integrity, compassion, and distinction throughout her long public career. She has proven herself to be a unifying figure, someone of deep values and steady leadership, with the qualities and experience to represent all the people of Ireland with dignity at home and abroad.

WATCH: Gareth Sheridan reacts after winning Tipperary County Council presidential nomination

“In my home county of Tipperary, I will leave no stone unturned to ensure Heather Humphreys receives the support she deserves. I firmly believe she is the best person to serve as our next President, continuing the proud tradition of the office and representing Ireland with honour.”

Her remarks underline the fine line walked by councillors from Government parties, balancing loyalty to their party’s chosen candidate while fulfilling the constitutional role entrusted to local representatives.