In a surprising turn of events, Jim Gavin, the Fianna Fáil candidate for the Irish presidential election, announced his withdrawal from the race just weeks before the scheduled polling day on October 24. Despite his decision, Gavin’s name will remain on the ballot due to electoral regulations that prevent changes after the nomination deadline. The former Dublin Gaelic football manager cited a personal mistake that contradicted his character and standards, though he did not specify the nature of the issue. Reports from the Irish Independent suggest the withdrawal followed allegations of a €3,300 debt owed to a former tenant. Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed regret over the situation, describing it as ‘very unfortunate.’ The Department of Housing and Local Government confirmed that Gavin’s name must remain on the ballot, as the withdrawal occurred after the nomination process closed. If Gavin were to win, he could either accept the presidency or decline, triggering a new election. Fianna Fáil stated that it was unaware of the tenant dispute before selecting Gavin as their candidate, emphasizing that initial queries were addressed without revealing the specifics of the issue.