President Michael D Higgins’s 14-year term is in its final months with an election to decide his predecessor set to take place before November 11th.

After months when a changing list of potential candidates tended towards the fanciful – for a while it seemed that anyone with a public profile was in the frame – now two names have emerged as definite contenders: Independent TD Catherine Connolly and former MEP Mairead McGuinness.

Connolly has secured the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and several Independent members, while McGuinness is the Fine Gael nominee.

Going by previous presidential elections, it won’t be a two-horse race but when will other candidates declare? And do the two women have early-mover advantage?

Irish Times political correspondent Ellen Coyne explains.

Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by John Casey. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.