Special meeting taking place this afternoon in Naas to hear pitches from Presidential election candidates

By Kim O'Leary

Kildare County Council will convene a special meeting this afternoon to hear the views of potential candidates for the 2018 Irish Presidential Election taking place this Autumn.

Kildare County Council have confirmed that the special meeting will take place at the Council Chamber, Áras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, today Monday August 27 at 2pm, and the purpose of the meeting is to afford potential candidates for election as President of Ireland the opportunity to attend and present to the members of Kildare County Council.

It is understood that there are currently six people who have been put forward as candidates for the election.

Independent Senators Joan Freeman and Pádraig Ó'Céidigh, artist Kevin Sharkey, businessman Gavin Duffy, former Aer Lingus employee Patrick Feeney and volunteer Marie Goretti Moylan are the six current candidates.

Some of the potential candidates addressed a meeting of Carlow County Council earlier this week as the campaign to challenge current president Michael D. Higgins continues.