2018 Irish presidential election explained

Election Name:	2018 Irish presidential election
Country:	Ireland
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2011 Irish presidential election
Previous Year:	2011
Election Date:	26 October 2018
Turnout:	43.9% (12.2%)^[1]
Next Election:	2025 Irish presidential election
Next Year:	2025
Nominee1:	Michael D. Higgins
Party1:	Independent politician (Ireland)
1Data1:	822,566 (55.8%)
Nominee2:	Peter Casey
Party2:	Independent politician (Ireland)
1Data2:	342,727 (23.3%)
Nominee3:	Seán Gallagher
Party3:	Independent politician (Ireland)
1Data3:	94,514 (6.4%)
Nominee4:	Liadh Ní Riada
Party4:	Sinn Féin
1Data4:	93,987 (6.4%)
Nominee5:	Joan Freeman
Party5:	Independent politician (Ireland)
1Data5:	87,908 (6.0%)
Nominee6:	Gavin Duffy
Party6:	Independent politician (Ireland)
1Data6:	32,198 (2.2%)
President
Before Election:	Michael D. Higgins
Before Party:	Independent politician (Ireland)
After Election:	Michael D. Higgins
After Party:	Independent politician (Ireland)

The 2018 Irish presidential election took place on Friday, 26 October, between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 p.m.^[2] President Michael D. Higgins, who was elected in 2011 with the support of the Labour Party, was seeking re-election to a second term as an Independent.^[3] This was the first time since the 1966 election that an incumbent president faced a contest for a second term. Higgins was re-elected on the first count with nearly 56% of the vote, becoming the first president since Éamon de Valera to win a second term in a contested election (Patrick Hillery in 1983 and Mary McAleese in 2004 had been re-elected unopposed).^[4] He was inaugurated for his second term on 11 November.

The election was held on the same date as a referendum on blasphemy.^[5]

Procedure

See main article: Irish presidential election. To stand for election as president, candidates must:

• be a citizen of Ireland
• be at least 35 years of age
• be nominated by:
  • at least twenty of the 218 serving members of the Houses of the Oireachtas (parliament), or
  • at least four of the 31 county or city councils, or
  • themselves, in the case of a former or retiring president who has served one term.

If a member of the Oireachtas or a County or City council nominate more than one candidate, only the first nomination paper received from them will be deemed valid. Presidential elections are conducted in line with Article 12 of the Constitution^[6] and under the Presidential Elections Act 1993, as amended.^[7] The President of Ireland is elected through Instant-runoff voting.^[8] All Irish citizens entered on the current electoral register are eligible to vote.^[6] Under the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011, there is a spending limit by each candidate of €750,000. Candidates who are elected or who reach 12.5% of the vote on their elimination are entitled to a reimbursement of expenses up to €200,000.^[9]

Nomination process

On 28 August the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, signed the order for the presidential election, specifying the nomination period as between 10 a.m. on 30 August and 12 noon on 26 September 2018.^[2]

On 10 July 2018, incumbent president Michael D. Higgins declared that he would exercise his right to nominate himself as a candidate for the presidential election.^{[10] [11] [3]} Higgins had said in 2011 that he intended to serve one term only, but changed his mind over the course of his term.^[12] Higgins's website and social media accounts became active on 17 September, having been dormant since his inauguration in November 2011.^[13] He formally nominated himself on 24 September.^[3]

Sinn Féin was the only party to select a candidate. With 28 Oireachtas members (22 TDs and six Senators), the party could nominate a candidate without the need for additional nominations from independents to reach the requirement of 20 Oireachtas members, as they had required in 2011. Nearly all other parties in the Oireachtas supported the re-election of Michael D. Higgins. People Before Profit declined to support any candidate in the election.^[14] Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice had tried to gather the support of other Independent TDs and Senators to support a candidate, but was unsuccessful. Nineteen were willing to be involved in his effort to find a candidate, one short of the twenty required to be nominated.^[15] Eleven Oireachtas members signed a nomination form for Gemma O'Doherty, nine short of the required number.^[16]

18 local authorities passed resolutions supporting a particular candidate, while the remaining 13 either passed no resolution or passed a resolution declining to nominate any candidate. Candidates needed the support of at least four local authorities to be a candidate in the election.

Name	Occupation	Resolutions	Councils
Peter Casey	Businessman	4	Clare,^[17] Kerry,^[18] ^[19] Limerick,^[20] Tipperary^[21]
Gavin Duffy	Businessman	4	Meath, Carlow, Wicklow, Waterford^[22]
Joan Freeman	Senator	4	Cork City, Fingal,^[23] Galway County, Galway City^[24]
Seán Gallagher	Businessman	5	Roscommon, Mayo, Leitrim,^[25] Wexford,^[26] Cavan^[27]
	Journalist	1	Laois^[28] ^[29]
No candidate		13	Dublin City,^[30] Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown,^[31] Louth,^[32] Kilkenny, Monaghan, Offaly, South Dublin,^[33] Westmeath, Kildare, Cork County, Donegal, Longford, Sligo

Others who had sought a nomination from local authorities were: Norma Burke,^[30] William Delaney, Patrick Feeney, John Groarke, Patrick Melly, Marie Goretti Moylan, Sarah Louise Mulligan, Kevin Sharkey, James Smyth, David Doucette,^[34] and John O'Hare.^[35] Sharkey withdrew his name from consideration during the nomination period, calling for the nomination of Gemma O'Doherty.^[36] Senator Gerard Craughwell had said that he would seek the nomination if Higgins were otherwise to be unopposed.^{[37] [38]} However, in July he announced that he would not contest the presidential election, in light of Sinn Féin's decision to run a candidate.^[39] He also cited the financial costs of running for the presidency as a factor in his decision not to contest the election.^[40] Despite Fianna Fáil support for the incumbent Michael D. Higgins, a few of the party's Councillors urged the leadership to nominate Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív, but he declined to allow his name to proceed as he would risk his party membership.^[41]

Candidates

Six candidates contested the presidential election, having been selected by their parties or having received sufficient council nominations.

• Peter Casey, a businessman from Derry who formerly appeared on the Irish version of the television series, Dragons' Den for the show's fifth and sixth series.^[42]
• Gavin Duffy, businessman from Kildare and has been a dragon on Dragons' Den since it first broadcast in 2009.^{[43] [44]}
• Joan Freeman, founded Pieta House, a suicide intervention charity, in 2006.^{[45] [46] [47]} She served as its director until 2014. In 2016, she was nominated by the Taoiseach as a member of Seanad Éireann, sitting as an Independent. She was supported by Rural Independent TDs Michael Collins, Michael Harty and Mattie McGrath.^[48]
• Seán Gallagher, a businessman from Cavan who came second in the 2011 presidential election.^{[49] [45]} He was a dragon investor in the first three seasons of Dragons' Den.
• Michael D. Higgins, incumbent president.
• Liadh Ní Riada, MEP for South since 2014, was confirmed as the Sinn Féin candidate on 16 September.^{[50] [51]}

Debates

Irish presidential election debates, 2018
Date	Broadcaster	Moderator	Participants
Participant   Absent invitee			Casey	Duffy	Freeman	Gallagher	Higgins	Ní Riada
27 September^[52]	RTÉ Radio 1	Áine Lawlor
13 October^[53]	RTÉ Radio 1	Cormac Ó hEadhra
15 October^[54]	RTÉ One TV	Claire Byrne
17 October	Virgin Media One	Pat Kenny
23 October	RTÉ One TV	David McCullagh
24 October	Virgin Media One	Matt Cooper / Ivan Yates

Opinion and exit polling

Last date of polling	Polling firm / Commissioner	Casey	Duffy	Freeman	Gallagher	Higgins	Ní Riada
	Ireland Thinks/Irish Daily Mail^[55]		10%	3%	11%	65%	11%
	RED C/The Sunday Business Post^[56]	1%	6%	3%	15%	67%	7%
	Red C/Paddy Power^[57]	1%	4%	6%	14%	70%	5%
	Ipsos MRBI/The Irish Times^[58]	2%	4%	5%	12%	66%	11%
	Behaviour & Attitudes/The Sunday Times^[59]	2%	4%	6%	11%	69%	7%
Exit polls
	Red C/RTÉ^[60]	20.7%	2.0%	6.3%	5.5%	58.1%	7.4%
	Ipsos MRBI/The Irish Times^[61]	21%	2%	6%	7%	56%	8%

Result

The count began at 09:00 on Saturday 27 October.

Constituency results

First preference votes by constituency^[62]

Constituency	Higgins		Casey		Gallagher		Ní Riada		Freeman		Duffy
	data-sort-type=number	Votes	data-sort-type=number	%	data-sort-type=number	Votes	data-sort-type=number	%	data-sort-type="number"	Votes	data-sort-type="number"	%	data-sort-type=number	Votes	data-sort-type=number	%	data-sort-type=number	Votes	data-sort-type=number	%	data-sort-type=number	Votes	data-sort-type=number	%
Carlow–Kilkenny	25,717	52.0%	13,929	28.2%	3,506	7.1%	2,419	4.9%	2,636	5.3%	1,265	2.6%
Cavan–Monaghan	16,749	44.3%	7,023	18.6%	6,771	17.9%	4,167	11.0%	2,063	5.5%	1,000	2.6%
Clare	22,639	54.7%	11,722	28.3%	2,289	5.5%	2,186	5.3%	1,969	4.8%	617	1.5%
Cork East	20,388	53.6%	9,340	24.5%	2,625	6.9%	2,705	7.1%	2,283	6.0%	716	1.9%
Cork North-Central	18,851	54.0%	8,382	24.0%	1,977	5.7%	3,112	8.9%	2,010	5.8%	545	1.6%
Cork North-West	17,638	51.5%	8,092	23.6%	3,199	9.3%	2,824	8.2%	1,855	5.4%	630	1.8%
Cork South-Central	24,161	60.5%	7,323	18.3%	2,164	5.4%	3,072	7.7%	2,554	6.4%	642	1.6%
Cork South-West	16,860	55.1%	6,582	21.5%	2,374	7.8%	2,489	8.1%	1,635	5.3%	680	2.2%
Donegal	15,052	38.1%	12,952	32.8%	3,684	9.3%	4,524	11.4%	2,563	6.5%	747	1.9%
Dublin Bay South	20,765	71.5%	3,433	11.8%	1,116	3.8%	1,221	4.2%	1,884	6.5%	626	2.2%
Dublin Bay North	32,198	63.9%	8,009	15.9%	2,500	5.0%	3,315	6.6%	3,372	6.7%	1,010	2.0%
Dublin Central	10,094	66.7%	1,692	11.2%	529	3.5%	1,749	11.6%	868	5.7%	203	1.3%
Dublin Fingal	27,039	63.1%	7,505	17.5%	2,369	5.5%	2,290	5.3%	2,643	6.2%	986	2.3%
Dublin Mid-West	17,196	59.3%	5,128	17.7%	1,433	4.9%	1,978	6.8%	2,734	9.4%	526	1.8%
Dublin North-West	14,728	62.6%	3,737	15.9%	1,121	4.8%	1,932	8.2%	1,546	6.6%	451	1.9%
Dublin Rathdown	21,704	68.7%	4,385	13.9%	1,487	4.7%	1,141	3.6%	2,177	6.9%	711	2.2%
Dublin South-Central	17,930	65.0%	3,794	13.8%	1,105	4.0%	2,282	8.3%	2,039	7.4%	441	1.6%
Dublin South-West	28,151	62.2%	8,324	18.4%	2,237	4.9%	2,584	5.7%	3,011	6.7%	929	2.1%
Dublin West	17,545	62.1%	4,887	17.3%	1,430	5.1%	1,842	6.5%	2,053	7.3%	514	1.8%
Dún Laoghaire	31,513	70.2%	5,872	13.1%	2,044	4.6%	1,596	3.6%	2,866	6.4%	1,000	2.2%
Galway East	18,011	53.4%	11,227	33.3%	1,379	4.1%	1,029	3.1%	1,545	4.6%	516	1.5%
Galway West	29,612	62.4%	10,821	22.8%	1,783	3.8%	2,161	4.6%	2,445	5.1%	660	1.4%
Kerry	25,078	50.1%	13,752	27.5%	2,856	5.7%	4,253	8.5%	3,102	6.2%	1,037	2.1%
Kildare North	23,103	61.3%	7,210	19.1%	2,258	6.0%	1,523	4.0%	2,751	7.3%	844	2.2%
Kildare South	14,766	56.9%	5,819	22.4%	1,829	7.0%	1,307	5.0%	1,619	6.2%	633	2.4%
Laois	13,754	49.8%	8,419	30.5%	1,845	6.7%	1,443	5.2%	1,464	5.3%	718	2.6%
Limerick County	15,262	48.1%	10,865	34.2%	1,756	5.5%	1,438	4.5%	1,762	5.6%	658	2.1%
Limerick City	18,904	57.7%	7,845	23.9%	1,557	4.8%	1,964	6.0%	1,917	5.9%	578	1.8%
Longford–Westmeath	18,024	47.5%	12,005	31.6%	2,873	7.6%	2,089	5.5%	2,122	5.6%	829	2.2%
Louth	26,291	58.4%	7,223	16.0%	2,934	6.5%	4,175	9.3%	2,291	5.1%	2,101	4.7%
Mayo	20,642	49.8%	12,850	31.0%	2,235	5.4%	2,107	5.1%	2,663	6.4%	937	2.3%
Meath East	16,754	56.7%	6,064	20.5%	2,060	7.0%	1,654	5.6%	1,883	6.4%	1,142	3.9%
Meath West	14,522	54.1%	5,917	22.0%	1,943	7.2%	1,847	6.9%	1,727	6.4%	904	3.4%
Offaly	13,977	47.0%	9,253	31.1%	2,672	9.0%	1,444	4.9%	1,691	5.7%	673	2.3%
Roscommon–Galway	14,246	45.1%	10,918	34.5%	2,270	7.2%	1,617	5.1%	1,850	5.9%	713	2.3%
Sligo–Leitrim	20,601	49.1%	11,132	26.5%	3,749	8.9%	3,172	7.6%	2,475	5.9%	859	2.0%
Tipperary	24,917	45.5%	20,149	36.8%	3,077	5.6%	2,827	5.2%	2,723	5.0%	1,106	2.0%
Waterford	18,609	52.2%	8,822	24.7%	2,530	7.1%	2,837	8.0%	2,025	5.7%	847	2.4%
Wexford	27,020	55.5%	11,818	24.3%	3,499	7.2%	2,939	6.0%	2,272	4.7%	1,161	2.4%
Wicklow	31,555	63.0%	8,507	17.0%	3,449	6.9%	2,733	5.5%	2,820	5.6%	1,043	2.1%
Total	822,566	55.8%	342,727	23.3%	94,514	6.4%	93,987	6.4%	87,908	6.0%	32,198	2.2%

Analysis

The Irish Timess analysis of its exit poll data said that Michael D. Higgins seemed on course to be comfortably re-elected on the first count, after leading in the opinion polls throughout the campaign, despite "considerable criticism over his use of the Government jet, expensive hotel accommodation on overseas visits and the lack of transparency over how an annual €300,000 allowance for his office was spent".^[61] It attributed the expected low turnout to "a lack of public enthusiasm for the contest that was evident throughout the campaign".^[61]

It ascribed Peter Casey's second place to a late surge of support following his criticisms of Travellers and his claim that Ireland had "a growing culture of welfare dependency", and it added that at some polling stations pollsters reported that "he was attracting as many voters as Mr Higgins".^[61] It said that Seán Gallagher appeared to be down 22% on his 2011 figure of 29%, but that the biggest disappointment would probably be for Sinn Féin, whose candidate Liadh Ní Riada's expected 8% was well down on its general election result, and only a third of the party's support in the latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI Opinion poll.^[61] It described Senator Joan Freeman's expected performance as "just 6 per cent of the vote", and Gavin Duffy's expected result as him having "flopped completely, ending a miserable campaign with just 2 per cent of the vote".^[61]

When analysing the Red C/RTÉ exit poll,^[60] RTÉ Political Correspondent Martina Fitzgerald said that the data showed that President Higgins was very popular among voters regardless of age and gender but was particularly popular among women and younger votes despite the debate about his age, which most voters saw as irrelevant. The most important factor cited by voters was the candidates' track record and expertise, while the finances and salary of the president were the least important factor.

Fitzgerald added that "the real political story" was that the result was "a disastrous election" for Sinn Féin, and "a serious blow" for which party leader Mary Lou McDonald would have to take "full responsibility".^[63] Fitzgerald also noted that the combined total of the three former Dragons Den judges (Casey, Gallagher, and Duffy) was very similar to Gallagher's vote in 2011, suggesting that vote had held up, but that Casey had taken most of it this time.^[63]

External links

• Presidential Election 2018 – Presidential Returning Officer
• TheJournal.ie -
  1. Aras 2018
  1. Aras 18
• The Irish Times - Presidential Election
• RTÉ.ie - Presidential Election
• RTÉ - candidate video pitches web page

Campaign websites

• Peter Casey
• Gavin Duffy
• Joan Freeman
• Sean Gallagher
• Michael D. Higgins
• Liadh Ní Riada

Notes and References

1. News: Presidential election results. The Irish Times. October 2018. 7 November 2018. 9 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200309164532/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/presidential-election/results. live.
2. Web site: Minister Murphy makes Presidential Election Order. Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 28 August 2018. 28 August 2018. 28 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180828170158/https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/presidential-elections/minister-murphy-makes-presidential-election-order. live.
3. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 24 September 2018. 28 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200713/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-24-September-2018-1.pdf. 28 September 2018. dead. dmy-all.
4. News: Higgins re-elected for seven more years as President. RTÉ News. 27 October 2018. 28 October 2018. 28 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181028225722/https://www.rte.ie/news/presidential-election/2018/1027/1006998-presidential-election/. live.
5. Web site: Thirty-seventh Amendment of the Constitution (Repeal of offence of publication or utterance of blasphemous matter) Bill 2018. Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 21 September 2018. 28 September 2018. 28 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928161321/https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/referenda/thirty-seventh-amendment-constitution-repeal-offence-publication. live.
6. Article 12 of the Constitution of Ireland. Web site: Constitution of Ireland. October 2015. Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. 16 September 2017. 3 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190503055502/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html. live.
7. Web site: Presidential Elections Act 1993. Irish Presidential Election. Presidential Returning Officer. 21 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153354/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/1993-Presidential-Elections-Act-1993-Consolidated-January-2016.pdf. 21 September 2018. dead. dmy-all.
8. News: Presidential election: Everything you need to know before voting . The Irish Times . 28 October 2018 . 26 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181026080400/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/presidential-election-everything-you-need-to-know-before-voting-1.3675937 . live .
9. Web site: Electoral (Amendment) Act 2011. 25 July 2011. Irish Statute Book. Attorney General of Ireland. 22 September 2018. 22 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180922174925/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/act/14/enacted/en/print.html. live.
10. News: Sarah. Bardon. Fiach. Kelly. Michael D Higgins confirms he will seek second term. The Irish Times. 10 July 2018. 10 July 2018. 23 September 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923221011/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/se%C3%A1n-gallagher-asks-councils-to-help-candidates-contest-presidency-1.3560002. live.
11. Web site: Micheál. Lehane. Michael D Higgins to seek second term as president. RTÉ News. 10 July 2018. 10 July 2018. 10 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180710164652/https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0710/977616-presidential-election/. live.
12. News: Over 75% of people want Michael D to serve a second term as president. 25 September 2017. 26 January 2018. TheJournal.ie. Cormac. Fitzgerald. 27 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083734/http://www.thejournal.ie/michael-d-president-poll-3614363-Sep2017/. live.
13. Web site: President Michael D Higgins back on Twitter as he kicks off Áras re-election campaign. Irish Independent. Cormac. McQuinn. 18 September 2018. 21 September 2018. 21 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180921191219/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/presidential-election-2018/president-michael-d-higgins-back-on-twitter-as-he-kicks-off-ras-reelection-campaign-37327336.html. live.
14. Web site: People Before Profit Statement on the Presidential Election. People Before Profit. 27 September 2018. 28 September 2018. 28 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928201025/http://www.pbp.ie/people-before-profit-statement-on-the-presidential-election/. live.
15. News: Independent TDs and Senators fail to agree on presidential nomination process. The Irish Times. Harry. McGee. 19 September 2018. 21 September 2018. 21 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180921191209/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/independent-tds-and-senators-fail-to-agree-on-presidential-nomination-process-1.3634795. live.
16. Web site: It's official - six candidates to contest presidential election as nomination process ends. TheJournal.ie. Gareth. McNamee. 26 September 2018. 29 September 2018. 29 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180929054715/http://www.thejournal.ie/aras-18-race-begins-4255065-Sep2018/. live.
17. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 21 September 2018. 22 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180922140048/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-21-September-2018.pdf. 22 September 2018. dead.
18. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180928200724/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.25-Public-Notice.pdf . 28 September 2018 . 5 February 2020 . dead . . Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 25 September 2018.
19. News: Peter Casey receives first council nomination for presidential race. The Irish Times. 17 September 2018. 17 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917153123/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/peter-casey-receives-first-council-nomination-for-presidential-race-1.3631691. live.
20. Web site: Peter Casey is on the presidential election ballot paper as he receives 4th council nomination . O'Carroll . Sinead . 18 September 2018 . . en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180918181656/http://www.thejournal.ie/peter-casey-nomination-limerick-4241246-Sep2018/ . 18 September 2018 . 5 February 2020.
21. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20180917123156/https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0917/994258-sharkey-president-withdrawal/ . 17 September 2018 . Sharkey withdraws from nomination race for presidency . RTÉ News. 17 September 2018. 5 February 2020 . live.
22. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 21 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180922140010/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-21-September-2018-2.pdf . dead . 22 September 2018 . Wayback Machine.
23. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180922140003/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-21-September-2018-1.pdf . dead . 22 September 2018 . Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 21 September 2018.
24. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153215/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-18-September-2018.pdf . dead . . 21 September 2018 . Presidential Election 2018. 18 September 2018 . 5 February 2020.
25. Web site: dead . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153337/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.17-Public-Notice.pdf . 21 September 2018 . 5 February 2020. Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 17 September 2018.
26. Web site: dead . . https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153111/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-12-September-2018.pdf . 21 September 2018 . Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates . Presidential Election 2018 . 12 September 2018 . 5 February 2020.
27. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20180921190901/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.19-Public-Notice.pdf . dead . . 21 September 2018 . 5 February 2020 . Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates . Presidential Election 2018. 19 September 2018.
28. Web site: Presidential candidates submit nomination papers . https://web.archive.org/web/20190914145548/https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0924/995677-presidential-election-councils/ . live . . 24 September 2018 . 14 September 2019 . 5 February 2020 . Lehane. Mícheál.
29. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates . https://web.archive.org/web/20180928161336/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.25-Public-Notice-2.pdf . 28 September 2018 . 5 February 2020 . . dead . Presidential Election 2018. 25 September 2018 .
30. News: Dublin City Council votes not to endorse candidate as Áras race turns farcical. Sorcha. Pollak. 13 September 2018. 5 February 2020. The Irish Times. 23 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200923073108/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/dublin-city-council-votes-not-to-endorse-candidate-as-%C3%A1ras-race-turns-farcical-1.3628498. live.
31. Web site: live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190126113813/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews//ireland/nearly-25-of-councils-decline-to-nominate-presidential-candidate-869602.html . 26 January 2019 . Nearly 25% of councils decline to nominate presidential candidate. . Fiachra . Ó Cionnaith . 17 September 2018 . 4 February 2020.
32. News: Presidential round up: Full list of who local authorities backed . 25 September 2018 . . 5 February 2020 . 28 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028030109/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/presidential-round-up-full-list-of-who-local-authorities-backed-1.3624756 . live .
33. News: Presidential hopeful Sarah Louise Mulligan ejected from Dublin meeting. The Irish Times. Colin. Gleeson. 20 September 2018. 21 September 2018. 20 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180920221235/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/presidential-hopeful-sarah-louise-mulligan-ejected-from-dublin-meeting-1.3636237. live.
34. Web site: Special meeting of Fingal County Council to consider Presidential nomination requests. Irish Examiner. 5 September 2018. 17 September 2018. 17 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917181703/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/special-meeting-of-fingal-county-council-to-consider-presidential-nomination-requests-866968.html. live.
35. Web site: Presidential election hopefuls to seek Tipperary Co. Council nomination tomorrow. The Nationalist. 17 September 2018. 17 September 2018. 17 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917165707/https://www.nationalist.ie/news/home/336311/presidential-election-hopefuls-to-seek-tipperary-co-council-nomination-tomorrow.html. live.
36. News: Kevin Sharkey pulls out of Presidential race. Irish Examiner. 17 September 2018. 17 September 2018. 17 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180917143532/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/kevin-sharkey-pulls-out-of-presidential-race-869485.html. live.
37. Web site: Running for president of Ireland is not something I would do willy-nilly, but we need a contest . 15 August 2017 . 16 September 2017 . . Christina . Finn . 16 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170916182503/http://www.thejournal.ie/gerard-craughwell-president-3545463-Aug2017/ . live .
38. News: Senator to run against Higgins to ensure election for presidency. 15 August 2017. 16 September 2017. The Irish Times. Seán. Dunne. 16 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170916184654/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/senator-to-run-against-higgins-to-ensure-election-for-presidency-1.3187387. live.
39. News: Craughwell will not contest Presidential Election. 23 July 2018. RTÉ News. 23 July 2018. 23 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723102333/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0723/980477-gerard-craughwell-presidential-election/. live.
40. News: Gerard Craughwell says he's not running for the presidency because he can't afford it. Murray. Sean. TheJournal.ie. 23 July 2018. 23 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180723091834/http://www.thejournal.ie/gerard-craughwell-election-4142441-Jul2018/. live.
41. Web site: Fiachra. Ó Cionnaith. Éamon Ó Cuív quit race over Fianna Fail threat. Irish Examiner. 7 September 2018. 17 September 2018. 18 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918012140/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/eamon-o-cuiv-quit-race-over-fianna-fail-threat-867309.html. live.
42. News: Peter Casey secures nomination to contest presidency . 18 September 2018 . RTÉ News . 18 September 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180918194111/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0918/994505-presidential-election/ . 18 September 2018.
43. Web site: Businessman Gavin Duffy becomes fourth official candidate in presidential race. Daragh. Brophy. TheJournal.ie. 14 September 2018. 14 September 2018. 7 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190507004819/https://www.thejournal.ie/businessman-gavin-duffy-becomes-fourth-official-candidate-in-presidential-race-4233912-Sep2018/. live.
44. News: Gavin Duffy confirms he wants to run for presidency. The Irish Times. 29 July 2018. 29 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180729131537/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/gavin-duffy-confirms-he-wants-to-run-for-presidency-1.3579758. live.
45. News: 24 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190724051014/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0910/992732-presidential-election-councils/ . Freeman and Gallagher both secure nominations for Áras bids . 10 September 2018. RTÉ News. 5 February 2020.
46. News: Sarah. Bardon. Joan Freeman may be seeking nomination to run for presidency. The Irish Times. 5 July 2018. 7 July 2018. 27 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027073802/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/joan-freeman-may-be-seeking-nomination-to-run-for-presidency-1.3555736. live.
47. Web site: Philip. Ryan. 'Darkness into Light' campaign founder seeks nomination for the Áras. Irish Independent. 6 July 2018. 7 July 2018. 7 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180707173302/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/darkness-into-light-campaign-founder-seeks-nomination-for-the-ras-37086136.html. live.
48. News: Joan Freeman asks councils to hold meetings to help possible presidential candidates. The Irish Times. Fiach. Kelly. 24 July 2018. 28 September 2018. 24 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180724232516/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/joan-freeman-asks-councils-to-hold-meetings-to-help-possible-presidential-candidates-1.3575461. live.
49. News: Seán Gallagher to seek nomination for Presidential Election. RTÉ News. 29 August 2018. 29 August 2018. 29 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180829105456/https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0829/988248-presidential-election/. live.
50. News: Sinn Féin nominates Liadh Ní Riada to contest the Presidential Election. RTÉ News. 16 September 2018. 16 September 2018. 16 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916164223/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/0916/994053-presidential-election/. live.
51. Web site: Public Notice Presidential Election 2018 Nomination of Candidates. Presidential Election 2018. 24 September 2018. 28 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180928161339/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-24-September-2018.pdf. 28 September 2018. dead.
52. News: Presidential candidates discuss salary, Trump and HPV vaccine in first debate. 27 September 2018. RTÉ News. 14 October 2018. 15 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181015002858/https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2018/0927/998356-presidential-election-campaign/. live.
53. News: Funding and expenses dominate Presidential campaign debate. RTÉ News. 13 October 2018. 14 October 2018. 14 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181014130104/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1013/1002897-presidential-debate/. live.
54. News: Higgins to take part in three presidential debates. RTÉ News. 2 October 2018. 14 October 2018. 14 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181014204119/https://www.rte.ie/news/presidential-election/2018/1002/1000480-presidential-debates/. live.
55. News: New poll reveals Michael D holds a crushing lead over presidential rivals. 30 August 2018. Extra.ie. 17 October 2018. 17 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017213138/https://extra.ie/2018/08/30/news/irish-news/michael-d-higgins-support-voters. live.
56. News: Latest polls suggest President Higgins on course for landslide re-election. Irish Independent. 16 September 2018. 16 September 2018. 16 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180916235818/https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/presidential-election-2018/latest-polls-suggest-president-higgins-on-course-for-landslide-reelection-37320985.html. live.
57. News: Poll suggests significant lead for Higgins. McMorrow. Conor. 12 October 2018. RTÉ News. 12 October 2018. 12 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181012132242/https://www.rte.ie/news/presidential-election/2018/1012/1002685-presidential-election-poll/. live.
58. News: Higgins holds huge poll lead over all rivals. 17 October 2018. The Irish Times. 17 October 2018. 17 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181017081236/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/higgins-holds-huge-poll-lead-over-all-rivals-1.3665774. live.
59. News: Higgins holding lead in race for Presidency, poll suggests. 20 October 2018. RTÉ News. 20 October 2018. 20 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181020200948/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1020/1005541-presidential-poll/. live.
60. News: RTÉ exit poll suggests Higgins on course for re-election. 26 October 2018. RTÉ News. 26 October 2018. 27 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181027003527/https://www.rte.ie/news/2018/1026/1006954-presidential-exit-poll/. live.
61. News: Michael D Higgins on course for decisive first-count victory as Peter Casey surges into second place. Pat Leahy. 26 October 2018. The Irish Times. 26 October 2018. Opinion polls in the early part of the campaign estimated negligible support for Mr Casey. However, after his criticisms of Travellers, and his assertion that there was a growing culture of welfare dependency in Ireland, support appears to have surged towards Mr Casey in the final weeks of the campaign. 26 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181026232246/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/irish-times-exit-poll-michael-d-higgins-on-course-for-decisive-first-count-victory-as-peter-casey-surges-into-second-place-1.3677340. live.
62. Web site: 2018 results . Presidential Election returning officer . 27 October 2018 . 27 October 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181027185819/https://www.presidentialelection.ie/2018-results-all-data-in-full/ . 27 October 2018 . dead .
63. News: Sinn Féin - the big story of the Presidential Election. Martina Fitzgerald. Martina Fitzgerald (Irish journalist). 27 October 2018. RTÉ News. 27 October 2018. 27 October 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181027142512/https://www.rte.ie/news/presidential-election/2018/1027/1007020-martina-fitzgerald-presidential-election/. live.