Six candidates to contest election

As the deadline for nominations to contest the Presidential Election has passed six candidates have succeeded in getting their names on the ballot paper.

President Michael D Higgins will be joined on the campaign trail by Seán Gallagher, Sinn Féin's Liadh Ní Riada, Senator Joan Freeman, Gavin Duffy and Peter Casey.

The election will be held on Friday, October 26. In order to contest the election, candidates required the support of four local authorities or the backing of 20 members of the Oireachtas.

The sitting president can nominate himself to contest the election, which Mr Higgins did.

Ms Ní Riada was nominated by the 28 Sinn Féin members of the Oireachtas, while the remaining four candidates received the backing of local authorities.

Cavan-native Seán Gallagher officially launches his campaign tomorrow. The former Dragon’s Den star will spend his first full day of campaigning in Louth and Monaghan tomorrow, before a campaign rally in Ballyhaise will officially launch his attempt for the Aras. The event will take place in Ballyhaise Community Centre at 7pm.

President Higgins will hold his campaign launch in Dublin this afternoon. Ms Freeman will launch her campaign on Monday and Mr Duffy's will take place on Tuesday.

The campaign teams Ms Ní Riada and Mr Casey say they will launch their campaigns in the coming week.

On October 26 the electorate will also vote on a referendum on blasphemy and its place in the Constitution.