The presidential race has kicked up a gear and, this week, the contest takes centre stage. Fianna Fáil is preparing to unveil its candidate for the Áras, while Fine Gael rallies around Heather Humphreys at the party’s think-in in Mullingar. But the real twist comes from Sinn Féin: Mary Lou McDonald’s withdrawal from consideration yesterday, leaving the party without a runner and creating an opening that independents like Catherine Connolly are moving fast to seize. 

Meanwhile, the county council nomination process is proving just as colourful as the national stage. In Tralee, a whole team of hopefuls lined up to woo councillors in what looked occasionally less like politics and more like theatre. 

Ciara Doherty is joined by Newstalk’s political correspondent Sean Defoe, who’s tracking every twist and turn of the campaign. From party strategy to council-room drama, we break down what’s happening, why it matters, and what it tells us about the road ahead in the battle for the presidency. 

Email us your thoughts at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com — we’d love to hear what you make of the race so far.