BREAKING: Kildare man eyes bid to become the next President of Ireland

Naas man Aubrey McCarthy is considering a bid for the presidency.

He was elected to Seanad Éireann last January on his first attempt following the general election of November 2024.

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Sen McCarthy has been approached by a number of people inside and outside the Oireachtas encouraging him to run and these include businessman retired judge Gillian Hussey, former TD Cathal Berry, councillors and journalists.

“It’s genuinely flattering to be mentioned (but) for now my focus remains firmly on my role in the seanad and it’s a position I will never take for granted."

Sen Aubrey McCarthy

However, he also said if an opportunity arose and "political parties saw value in someone with a lived experience of social exclusion who has built strategies around recovery, housing and inclusion I would certainly be open to having my name in the mix.”

The race to succeed Michael D Higgins is, for now, wide open.

Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness indicated she’d confirm her interest by May but hasn’t done so; Sinn Féin’s Michelle O’Neill hasn’t ruled herself out and neither has SDLP leader Colum Eastwood. Fianna Fáil has not yet put forward a candidate.

Sen McCarthy is best known for leading the development of Tiglin, which works with people suffering with addiction as well as the 34 unit Jigginstown Manor in Naas providing independent living and comprehensive  services for young adults and care leavers from County Kildare.

He has highlighted the housing shortage before and since he was elected and said after he won the seat that his route to office was “shaped by lived experience - the challenges I faced growing up in Naas and by my work in social enterprise, addiction recovery, housing and education.” 

On Saturday hosted a social event at his Punchstown home. 

It was attended by FF TD and government minister James Lawless, Sen Fiona O’Loughlin, Wicklow FG TD Edward Timmins, and Cllr Evie Sammon.

Also present were ambassadors from eight countries.

“Being elected is an honour and I’m learning that. It is about trying to help people and the belief that change is possible,” he said, adding he didn’t come from a political background.

“We live in a world that’s very much divided,” he said and referring to Tiglin,  he said it represented a promise to give people a second, third, fourth chance.

Every Thursday, he said, he visits the Lightbout Homeless Cafe in Pearse Street, Dublin to meet with broken marginalised people. 

It’s there that you’ll hear about the hard realities of life, he said.