Jarlath Burns rules out Irish Presidential bid

The President of the GAA Jarlath Burns has said he will not be a candidate in this year’s Irish Presidential election.

Mr Burns, who is from South Armagh, had been touted as a potential candidate to replace President Michael D Higgins whose second term of office ends in November.

However, when he was asked about the issue during a sports interview on RTÉ Radio, the GAA chief said: “I have another year of the GAA presidency to do, and I would certainly not be in the mood to give that up to go for anything else.”

He added, “I have a lot of things to do in the GAA and a very short time to do it,” before stating “it’s a firm no from me”.

This year’s Presidential election in Ireland must take place within a sixty-day period before the term of President Higgins ends on 11 November.

President Higgins was inaugurated on 11 November 2011 and re-elected in October 2018.

An Irish President may not serve more than two terms.

The main political parties have not yet announced their candidates for the election.

It is not known if all the main parties will ultimately nominate a candidate or if they will decide to endorse a candidate from outside their respective parties.

In recent Presidential elections in Ireland, there has been a growing trend of independent candidates seeking a nomination and some have contested elections, including the 1970 Eurovision song contest winner Dana who was a candidate in 2011.

Anyone wishing to contest the Irish Presidential election must be nominated by at least 20 members of Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) or Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate) or receive nominations from at least 4 local authorities.

Former or retiring Presidents can nominate themselves, but not after serving two terms.