In this post, you will find all the Next President of Ireland odds, favourites and betting tips as we get closer to a new President occupying the Áras.
Ireland’s current President Michael D. Higgins was first elected to the role in 2011 before he sought a second term in 2018. He retained office, winning the election with 55.8% of the votes.
The role will change hands in 2025 when Higgins’ second term comes to an end as an Irish President can’t hold office for more than two terms. Ahead of that change of office, the betting market is currently very competitive as we look at who could be his successor.
Next President of Ireland Odds
Candidate | Odds | Chance of Winning |
|---|---|---|
Micheál Martin | 3/1 | 25% |
Mairead McGuinness | 9/2 | 18.2% |
Fergus Finlay | 5/1 | 16.7% |
Bertie Ahern | 8/1 | 11.1% |
Seán Kelly | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Emily O’Reilly | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Miriam O’Callaghan | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Tommy Tiernan | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Frances Fitzgerald | 16/1 | 5.9% |
John Finucane | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Next Irish President Betting Favourites & Tips
Micheál Martin
The favourite to be the next President of Ireland is Micheál Martin at odds of 3/1. Those odds imply there is a 25% chance he will become the next President of Ireland.
Martin got involved in politics during his time at university. He became a prominent member of the UCC Cumann of Ógra Fianna Fáil before serving as national chairman of Ógra. After completing his BA he did an MA in political history and subsequently became a teacher in Presentation Brothers College. However, his teaching career was short-lived, and he was elected in the Cork South-Central constituency in 1989 and has held that position since.
During his political career, he has held several prominent positions as Minister for Education, Health, Enterprise, Foreign Affairs and Taoiseach from 2020 to 2022.
It has been widely speculated for years that eventually Martin would seek a presidential nomination from his party Fianna Fail. However, it seems that he is likely to lead his party into the next General Election which will take place no later than March of 2025 and it's unclear what impact that would have on a bid for the Aras.
It remains to be seen what will happen with the Fianna Fáil stalwart and a week is a long time in politics, not to mind a few months!
Mairead McGuiness
The second favourite to be the next President of Ireland is Mairead McGuiness with odds of 4/1 suggesting a 20% chance of her becoming the third female to be President of Ireland following Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese.
McGuinness was the first female graduate of UCD’s Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics in 1980, in 1984 she completed a diploma in accounting and finance before entering politics in 2004 when she was elected to the European Parliament as a Fine Gael candidate. She would spend 16 years in the European Parliament before she was put forward for the European Commissioner role in 2020 a role she was ultimately elected to and has served in since.
Due to her extensive experience in politics following a career of over two decades along with her standing in the Fine Gael Parliamentary party, she looks like a very likely candidate for the role in the coming months.
Fergus Finlay
Another potential candidate at third in the betting to become the next President of Ireland is Fergus Finlay who has strong ties to the Labour Party and is priced at 5/1 giving him a 16.7% chance of landing the most prestigious position on the island.
Finlay previously sought the Labour Party's nomination back in 2010 to run for President in 2011 before it was eventually won by the eventual president of Ireland Michael D. Higgins. The 72-year-old has previously served as Chief Executive of Barnardos in Ireland, a charity which aims to protect vulnerable children, a role he held for 14 years. He is also known for his weekly column with the Irish Examiner.
Fergus has stated on several occasions that he would not rule out another run for the Irish Presidency and as the most likely nominee of the Labour Party he can't be ruled out going close to assuming office from Michael D. Higgins.
As a distinguished social and political commentator he may have to tone down that voice in the coming weeks and months if he wants to become the next President of Ireland.
Bertie Ahern
The fourth favourite in the betting to become the next President of Ireland is another former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at odds of 8/1 suggesting an 11.1% chance he is elected to the role.
Ahern was educated at St. Patrick's National School, Drumcondra and at St. Aidan's Christian Brothers, Whitehall. He received his third-level education at the College of Commerce, Rathmines as part of the Dublin Institute of Technology. Following several years of canvassing for Fianna Fail and being involved in the party he was first elected to the Dail in June 1981 a role he would continually be elected to until February 2011 becoming one of the most popular politicians in the country. He always displayed ambition though and worked as Minister of Finance, Labour and was the Lord Mayor of Dublin before he became leader of Fianna Fail in December 1994 and subsequently became Taoiseach of the country a role he held from June 26th, 1997, to the 7th of May 2008.
Bertie has never ruled out a run for the Irish Presidency and that speculation has intensified with a return to the party in 2023 after 11 years away from politics. He is certainly a name to keep an eye out for as although his Dail career ended in failure he is still well regarded for his role in the peace process and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Sean Kelly
Another name which has been bandied about for the role of next President of Ireland is MEP for the South Constituency Sean Kelly with odds of 12/1 suggesting a 6.7% chance that he assumes another prominent position in the coming months.
Despite his status as an MEP, he is best known for serving as the 34th President of the GAA a position he held from 2003-2006 and became the first person from Kerry to hold the office, being elected at his first attempt by a record margin at the GAA Congress in 2002.
He has been tipped as a Fine Gael candidate for the Irish Presidential Election for years and with his popular pedigree in the GAA an institution which carries an awful lot of power, influence and votes as well as his background with the EU he certainly ticks a few candidacy boxes.
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