'It didn't work out, no regrets': Sheridan concedes he can't get support to make ballot

James Cox

Businessman Gareth Sheridan has acknowledged the end of his presidential campaign after he failed to receive the backing of Offaly and Meath county councils.

While Mr Sheridan has the support of two local authorities - Kerry and Tipperary - he has now run out of options to secure two more.

Mr Sheridan is due to address Louth County Council this evening, however its support, along with Kerry and Tipperary county councils, would not be enough to contest the election.

He has admitted it is now "mathematically" impossible for him to secure enough support to get on the ballot.

Mr Sheridan, a married father of an almost three-year-old girl, lost out on a nomination from Meath by just one vote.

Speaking to reporters at Offaly County Council, he said: “We tried to offer something different.

“I think diversity on the ballot is important and we tried to offer that.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work out this time – but, you know, no regrets.”

He added: “The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, obviously devastated that we didn’t get the four nominations – it would’ve been great but wouldn’t change anything during the process.

“It was hard work but I think we made a little bit of a splash anyway.”

Reflecting on his campaign, Mr Sheridan called the process to secure a nomination through local authorities “tricky” when they are controlled by the larger political parties.

He said he had “great respect for all the councillors” but added: “This time around, it wasn’t to be.”

Mr Sheridan, a self-described “multimillionaire pharma tycoon” had lived in the US for more than 10 years before returning to Ireland earlier this year ahead of his campaign.

He had said he would leave his company, Nutribrand, had he had been elected.

Noting that he no longer had a route to secure sufficient nominations, he said: “Mathematically, that’s it for now me – but that’s fine.

“We gave it our best shot, we got two nominations which is really encouraging.

“We had a pathway and unfortunately the pathway and the plan didn’t work out.”

Mr Sheridan wished the candidates who will be on the ballot “the best”, adding he will be following the election “closely”.

Asked about his future plans, he said he did not need to be in a political position to advocate or fight for issues such as the housing crisis.

“It is something that I will definitely dive into and tackle head on – probably from a different perspective this time around obviously.

“But these are issues that I’m passionate about as a person, as a proud Irishman.

“If I can’t do it from Aras, I’ll have do it from somewhere and I’ll have to work out where that is over the next couple of weeks but it’s not going away.”

He said he was trying to push younger people to get involved in politics and was hopeful that he could count his last few weeks as a “success” in that regard.

“We’re trying to invite young people into the conversation.

“If we start that narrative through this process I think that’s a good thing and I’ll be proud of that.

“But again, we’ll see how we go from this point.

“But I wouldn’t change a thing, it was eye-opening, it was great to meet so many new people, earn the support and trust of so many people and highlight issues.”

Pressed on whether it would be his last time running for office again, Mr Sheridan said: “We’ll see.” - Additional reporting from Press Association