Questions have multiplied after the Irish Daily Mail newspaper
contradicted Mrs Humphreys’ claims that she had last attended an Orange
Order event in her childhood, reporting that she regularly attended
Orange Order parades in Drum, County Monaghan, until at least 2014.

Subsequent attempts by Fine Gael to describe the Orange Order parades as
“picnics” were also ridiculed after photo evidence emerged to the

Humphreys also attempted to dodge questions over her husband’s
involvement in the Orange Order, which infamously opposes Catholicism,
bars the involvement of Catholics and bars members from marrying
Catholics. Membership also requires taking an oath of allegiance to the
Protestant succession of the British monarchy, the British Crown and the
established laws and constitution of the United Kingdom, particularly
the Protestant faith.

Instead, the Fine Gael candidate has claimed she would now vote for
Irish unity and that she is an example to unionists in the north of

Meanwhile, controversy has also hit the campaign of the Fianna Fáil
presidential candidate Jim Gavin. Last week he said that he is in favour
of the abolition of the Triple Lock, which protects Irish neutrality by
requiring the government to have UN support if it wants to send Defence
Forces personnel abroad.

It chimes with the stance of Fianna Fáil Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who
has recently suggested sending members of the 26 County Army to Ukraine
to help fight its war against Russia.

In an interview, Gavin also called for an end to the Israeli bombing in
Gaza, noting it has continued even after Israel’s “military objectives
have probably been reached”.

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan has described the comments as “utterly

“To speak about Israel’s heinous actions by saying that their military
objectives are ‘probably complete’, rather than calling them out for war
crimes, and blatant genocide is utterly tone deaf.

“Israel’s only objective in Gaza is to exterminate the Palestinian
people – they are actively carrying out a genocide to make this happen.”

She also said his stance on neutrality “is a real concern”.

“Irish people are proud of, and value, our neutrality,” she said. “Our
president should be someone who will not only respect, but will also
protect Irish neutrality. Jim Gavin is clearly not the person to do

The past week has seen a number of potential candidates drop out after
struggling to win the necessary support from 20 parliamentarians or 4
county councils – including high-profile celebrities, former rock star
Bob Geldof and mixed martial arts wrestler Conor McGregor.

Although party leader Mary Lou McDonald ruled herself out last week,
Sinn Féin is still yet to say who they will be supporting in next
month’s election.

The only other confirmed candidate so far is Galway Independent
Catherine Connolly, who is backed by a broad left-wing coalition
including Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit.