Independent candidate Nick Delehanty has claimed that Ireland is facing a “political crisis” rather than a housing or immigration crisis as he launched his presidential campaign.
Speaking at his campaign launch this week, Delehanty said the presidency should embody “fidelity to the nation” as set out in Article 9.3 of the Constitution.
“Fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the state are the fundamental political duties of all citizens,” he said. “That ranks higher than your loyalty to the state…and that’s everything that I’m about.”
He argued that the concept of a rotating Taoiseach was “bizarre” and said it had “devalued the most powerful office in the state.”
“No other democracy does that,” he said.
“Why are we allowing the normalisation of this concept?”
The 35-year-old solicitor-turned-activist, who previously ran unsuccessfully in the 2024 local and general elections, said he hopes to become the youngest candidate to contest the Áras.
“If we get on the ballot, I won’t come last,” he said.
Delehanty said he left a decade-long legal career to pursue public life and now runs a small business while raising his young family in Dublin. He described himself as part of “Generation Rent” and said he represents a wave of young people who feel “the social contract has been broken.”
The independent candidate said his campaign had already raised €28,000 through small donations.
“I’m not a millionaire of any sorts,” he said.
“But because I have such public support, we were able to raise money…we’re not accepting any money except for on GoFundMe. It’s very transparent.”
Asked whether he would refuse to sign legislation as president, Delehanty said he would only act if there were constitutional concerns.
“I’m not here to cause a constitutional crisis of any sort,” he said.
“But I do think that is an important function of the president…the Council of State could be used more.”
He also said he was “pro–united Ireland,” though he cautioned that progress should be gradual. “I want a united Ireland,” he said.
“But we have to be careful…you don’t want to ignite old issues.”
On the Irish language, Delehanty said he would commit to learning it publicly if elected.
“I have Leaving Cert standard Irish,” he said.
“If I was to be elected President, I think I would do more for the Irish language because I would very much make a viral series, basically, of my progression in learning fluent Irish.”
He defended his record of commentary on immigration and State spending, particularly around contracts for accommodation providers.
“It’s gone from a billion or two billion in 2020 to now upwards of maybe hitting 10 billion when you include everything,” he said.
“We’re making millionaires out of some people that should not be getting government contracts in the first place.”
Delehanty said he did not believe he was a single-issue candidate, but insisted that spending in this area was “a much bigger issue than people realise.”
Ireland’s next presidential election is scheduled for later this year. To secure a place on the ballot, candidates require the backing of 20 Oireachtas members or support from four local authorities. Delehanty said he was confident of gaining the necessary support from councillors but acknowledged the challenge.
“We’re very realistic,” he said.
“This could all be over in two or three weeks if the councils don’t go our way. But we have to keep going. We have to put the cart before the horse in many ways to have a campaign.”
Current President Michael D. Higgins was re-elected in 2018 with 55.8% of the vote, defeating businessman Peter Casey, who finished second with 23.3 per cent.
The last presidential election with multiple independents was in 2011, which saw seven candidates on the ballot.