Just one vote... Sheridan narrowly failed in his bid to secure his place on Presidential Election ballot paper

Entrepreneur Gareth Sheridan failed to secure the backing of Meath County Council in his presidential bid on Monday morning, narrowly missing out by just one vote.

Monday was always going to be crunch day for the Nutribrand founder who had the backing of two councils but needed two more to make it onto the ballot paper and by the end of the day, it was clear he would not succeed in his bid.

Sheridan opted to attend at Buvinda House in person for proceedings where he came within a whisker of gaining a nomination with 13 councillors supporting him while 14 voted against.

It was always going to be a tough ask to get the numbers in Meath but his chances looked more hopeful after a motion put forward by Fine Gael not to nominate any candidate was defeated thus giving candidates the opportunity to set out their stall and make their presentations.

While a lengthy list of 17 hopefuls had sought to present to councillors in Meath at the special meeting, just seven took up the opportunity. Four of those came in to the council chamber -Gareth Sheridan, Lorna McCormack, Charlie Keddy and Charlotte Keenan. Lucy-Anne O'Leary and Gearoid Duffy presented via zoom while persistent issues with Sarah Louise Mulligan's camera meant she did not get to make her pitch.

Monday morning's meeting got off to a heated start and it was touch and go whether candidates would even get the chance to make their case. Cllr Gerry O'Connor proposed that standing orders be suspended to deal with a motion he put forward not to nominate any candidate and this was seconded by Fine Gael colleague Joe Fox.

There was an angry reaction from independent councillor Joe Bonner who said it was “scandalous” and that they were in a democracy where people were entitled to put themselves forward and should be heard. He said it was a “sad day for county Meath and a sad day for democracy” if the main political parties appeared to put a block on that process.

Cllr Nick Killian argued that independents represent a sizeable amount of the electorate in Meath and should have the opportunity to put forward a candidate and that democracy should be about choice, while Cllr Alan Lawes said it was anti-democratic in the extreme to not allow people the opportunity to put themselves on front of the electorate.

Cllr O'Connor's motion was defeated by 15 to 11 paving the way for candidates to make their pitch.

First up was Charlie Keddy a retired plumber from Co Wicklow, followed by Charlotte Keenan, an artist and psychologist from Co Westmeath. Then it was the turn of Ratoath business woman Lorna McCormack who also used sign language during her presentation.

McCormack is best known as the founder of Wool in School, an educational initiative centred around wool and sustainability. She spoke of how she understood the issues facing every family- the crisis in housing, homelessness, disabilities services and said political systems are failing to respond to the cost of living crisis and our standard of living. She said Ireland does not need a president that will stand above the people but one that stands among them. Her vision for the presidency was “grounded in a firm belief of inclusion, heritage, amplifying voices to inspire change and social justice”.

Gareth Sheridan took to the podium next, opening with a cúpla focail.

At 36, he said he might be the youngest ever candidate if he gets their support and appealed to them not to dismiss his candidacy as some sort of “outrageous or audacious youthful arrogance”.

He said they may have a view that someone without a background in politics is undeserving of their nomination but he pointed out that the Taoiseach and government ministers have already nominated such a person in Jim Gavin.

Speaking of his life experience, he said of the millions who emigrated, he was one of less than a handful who took a college idea and brought it to a point of listing it on the largest stock exchange in the world. He outlined that his reason for stepping away from his business was that having come home after time abroad he was “shocked” by how many of his contemporaries were still living at home in their parents' box room and looking at emigration as their only option.

Pre-empting some of the questions, he said he was pro EU membership, pro Ireland maintaining its military neutrality, pro an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and political two-state solution, and pro the ending of the war in Ukraine. He also said he is pro a united Ireland, pro same-sex marriage, pro-choice and pro-business.

When asked by Cllr John Duffy why he was walking away from a business with so much potential, he said the business was in safe hands and that it showed how serious he was about the nomination. He felt it was the right time in our history for a younger candidate for the presidency. When pressed by Cllr Nick Killian, he confirmed that if successful, he would have no ongoing role with the company.

Following the presentations, the only candidate nominated for a vote was Sheridan, proposed by Cllr Carol Lennon and seconded by Cllr Amanda Smith. The result of the vote was 13 in favour, 14 against, five abstentions and eight councillors were absent.

The councillors who voted to nominate Sheridan were independent councillors Joe Bonner, Francis Deane, Brian Fitzgerald, David Gilroy, Geraldine Keogan, Nick Killian, Alan Lawes, Carol Lennon and Amanda Smith as well as Sinn Fein councillors Peter Caffrey and Michael Gallagher, Aontú councillor Emer Tóibín and Fianna Fáil's Paul O'Rourke.

Voting against him were Fine Gael councillors Yemi Adenuga, Eugene Cassidy, John Duffy, Joe Fox, Suzanne Jamal, Maria Murphy, Gerry O'Connor, Alan Tobin and Sharon Tolan as well as Fianna Fáil councillors Sean Drew, Padraig Fitzsimons, Wayne Harding, Conor Tormey and independent Yvonne Everard.

Those who abstained were: Sinn Féin councillors Fionnan Blake, Eddie Fennessy, Helen Meyer, and Maria White, as well as Aontú's Dave Boyne.

Councillors absent for the vote included: Mike Bray (FF), Padraig Coffey (FF), Noel French (IND), Stephen McKee (FF), Paddy Meade(FG), Ronan Moore (SD), Caroline O'Reilly (FF), Sarah Reilly (FG).