THE IRISH Presidential election is less than six months away, and the leading players in the race to take over from Michael D. Higgins are becoming a little clearer.
Ireland will go to the polls on Tuesday, November 11th, to determine who will be the next occupant of the Áras an Uachtaráin, with Higgins stepping down after completing the maximum two terms.
Popular politician Mairead McGuinness has appeared as the frontrunner in the race, but with candidates still to be declared, the likes of Frances Black, Bertie Ahern, and several other prominent figures could shake things up. Of course, the race is likely to receive extra attention this year, with former UFC star Conor McGregor looking to use it to gain some political traction of his own.
Who is the most likely to end up in the Áras when all is said and done? Join us in this Irish Presidential election odds and betting guide to find out how the bookies think things are shaping up.
Irish presidential election 2025 odds
- Mairead McGuinness – 3/4 with LeoVegas
- Frances Black – 6/1 with NetBet
- Sean Kelly – 9/1 with 888 Sport
- Heather Humphreys – 9/1 with NetBet
- Bertie Ahern – 10/1 with 888 Sport
- Catherine Connolly – 10/1 with NetBet
- Conor McGregor – 15/1 with LeoVegas
Odds are subject to change.
Where to bet on the Irish presidential election
The current political landscape in Ireland
Like most major European countries, Ireland finds itself at a political crossroads right now. The 2024 election saw Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael continue their coalition, with the Independents acting as the third party, replacing the Greens, who had held that position since 2020.
Like the 2020 election, though, the 2024 one showed that there is a serious appetite for change in the country. Sinn Fein, led by Mary Lou McDonald, finished second again, replicating their 2020 result.
Of course, the coalition between the two leading parties all but ensures Sinn Fein will not get anywhere near power. However, this is largely seen as papering over the cracks, with this coalition essentially ignoring the will of many voters in the country.
From a Presidential perspective, though, things tend to be a little calmer. Michael D. Higgins has been President since 2011 and has been a popular figure in the country. His popularity was emphasised during the 2018 election, where he cruised to a comfortable 55.8% win in the first round of voting.
Who are the contenders for the 2025 Irish presidential election?
Let’s take a more detailed look at the names expected to be vying for the Presidency in November and see how Irish bookmakers are expecting things to pan out.
Mairead McGuinness
Mairead McGuinness is the clear frontrunner to succeed Michael Higgins in this year’s Irish Presidential election. The Fine Gael politician is one of the most experienced and respected senior officials in Ireland.
She has held various positions representing Fine Gael and Ireland in Europe, including being the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union from 2020 to 2024. Now that she has stepped down from that role, she appears to be the perfect candidate to take over at the Áras. She is currently priced at 3/4 with LeoVegas.
Bet on Mairead McGuinness to win the elections
at 3/4 with LeoVegas
Frances Black
Those looking for a strongly left-leaning choice in this year’s Irish election will be glad to see Frances Black sitting in the second favourite spot with several bookies. Black was, of course, famous for her role in her family’s band, The Black Family, before she moved into politics in 2016.
She won a seat in the Seanad as an independent candidate in 2016 and has been outspoken on several important human rights issues. Given the current divide that exists across Europe, some may see her as too divisive a figure, but she is certainly one to watch as the election gets closer. She is available at 6/1 with NetBet.
Tip Frances Black to win at 6/1 with NetBet
Sean Kelly
Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly has said he will decide by the summer whether or not he is going to run for the presidency, but all signs currently point towards him doing so. The former GAA President knows he will be up against it, with Fine Gael never winning the race to the Aras an Uachtaráin.
With opinion polls for party leader Simon Harris not looking too strong, it is difficult to imagine he will break that. The bookies, however, do give him an outside chance, with 888 Sport pricing Sean Kelly at 9/1 to be the next Irish President.
Back Sean Kelly at 9/1 with 888 Sport
Heather Humphreys
Heather Humphreys has, for the time being, ruled herself out of the Irish Presidential race, but that has stopped the bookies from listing her as one of the favourites. A lot can change between now and November, and many are expecting the former deputy leader of Fine Gael to throw her hat back in the ring.
She stepped down from politics during last year’s general election, saying that ‘politicians are human too’ and taking some time away from the public eye. The general consensus among the bookies is that she will make a comeback at some point this year, with NetBet pricing her at 9/1.
Pick Heather Humphreys at 9/1 with NetBet
Bertie Ahern
Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is another name that has been gaining traction in discussions surrounding this year’s presidential election. Ahern returned to politics after an over a decade’s hiatus in 2023, sparking speculation that he might be considering a run for Áras.
While he has certainly had his ups and downs over the years, he has been one of Ireland’s most prominent, best-known, and popular politicians since the 1980s, and could be seen as a bit of a unifying figure in potentially tough times ahead. 888 Sport currently has Bertie Ahern priced at 10/1 to become the next Irish President.
Choose Bertie Ahern at 10/1 with 888 Sport
Catherine Connolly
Catherine Connolly, the current TD for Galway West, is another name that has been doing the rounds in the discussion for the next Irish President. Connolly is a well-respected name in Irish politics, having served as an Independent TD for Galway West since 2016.
Before entering parliament, she served as Mayor of Galway between 2004 and 2005 and has also previously chaired the Irish Language Committee. She may be seen as a softer, left-leaning candidate compared to Frances Black and could certainly appeal to some moderates. She is available at 10/1 with NetBet.
Bet on Catherine Connolly at 10/1 with NetBet
Conor McGregor
While he is extremely unlikely to even come close to the Áras, Conor McGregor’s high-profile claims that he is going to run for President will no doubt dominate the headlines leading up to this year’s election. The former UFC star is a divisive figure who will look to ride a wave of populism into power.
His strong anti-immigration, pro-Irish stance will be popular with some members of the public, but ultimately, his involvement here is nothing more than a sideshow.
Back Conor McGregor to win the Irish election
at 15/1 with LeoVegas
How might the odds shift between now and November?
While there is still time for plenty of twists and turns in the lead-up to the Irish Presidential election in November, these races tend to be a lot less chaotic than some of their European counterparts, or even the Irish general election.
Public interest in Presidential elections does not tend to be as rife as it is for general elections. However, the involvement of Conor McGregor, whether he manages to secure a candidacy or not, will no doubt shine a bit more of a spotlight on this year’s race.
Like any election, there is always the chance that some sort of scandal will shake things up, and there are still debates to go before the event.
As such, I recommend monitoring the odds throughout the entire election cycle and be prepared to pounce on big odds shifts, but don’t expect the wild ride you might get in other elections.
How do Irish presidential elections work?
The Irish Presidential election system uses a thorough voting process to ensure the best candidate is elected to the role. To run for presidency, candidates must be nominated by either 20 members of the Oireachtas (parliament) or by at least four local authorities.
Once the candidates have been confirmed, nationwide voting occurs using the Single Transferable Vote system. The public votes using a ranking system, selecting their candidates in order of preference.
To win the election, a candidate must secure over 50% of the vote. If no candidate achieves this during a round, then the lowest-scoring candidate is removed.
Their votes are then distributed to their voters’ second choices. This process then continues until a candidate secures more than 50% of the overall vote and is confirmed as the winner.
Keeping on top of the Irish presidential race
If you want to keep up with all of the twists and turns in this year’s Irish Presidential race, be sure to check back in with us at The Sun regularly.
We are committed to providing the most in-depth election coverage around, keeping our readers up to speed with the latest polls, debates, odds, and more.
About the author
James Anderson
James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing.
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