By Anne Lucey,Irishexaminer.com

Copyright irishexaminer

Independent Niall O’Callaghan said he was proposing Mr Sheridan as he was a deserving candidate and a young person experienced in business and in life.

Mr O’Callaghan said he took exception to some of the remarks at the meeting about Mr Sheridan’s lack of experience, saying some of the candidates already in the field did not have experience.

The nomination was seconded by Independent Martin Grady, who is Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal District. Mr Grady said Ireland would benefit from Mr Sheridan’s American connections. The presidential hopeful’s Nutriband business was listed on Nasdaq in December 2021.

“He has no ambition to become an antagonist to the government but a protagonist for the people,” Mr Grady said, quoting from Mr Sheridan’s address a week ago.

Before Mr Sheridan was selected, a motion was proposed by the council’s Fine Gael leader Bobby O’Connell “not to nominate” a candidate.

Seconded by Fianna Fáil council leader Norma Moriarty, the motion was defeated by independents, Sinn Féin and Labour 18 votes to 14.

Ms Moriarty said she wanted her dissent to be noted, saying she had “serious concerns about that candidate”.

She said presidents from Douglas Hyde on had been accomplished in several areas and had the capacity to represent all, and not just sectoral interests.

“Young for the sake of young does not qualify you,” Ms Moriarty said.

At age 35, Mr Sheridan could become the youngest ever presidential election candidate if he gets on the ticket.

There was a show of hands by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael members to have their dissent noted.

Independent Johnny Healy-Rae said the inclusive thing to do was to allow a candidate to get on the ballot paper.