The line-up is almost set and the race for the Áras is officially on one close-of-nominations passes at midday. The four likely contenders – Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys, Jim Galvin and Maria Steen – now face a month of high-stakes campaigning before voters make their choice on Friday 24 October. 

In today’s podcast, Ciara Doherty gets you fully briefed on what to expect. First, Gerard Howlin, political advisor and Irish Times columnist, casts his eye over the field of candidates – weighing their strengths, their weaknesses, and whether anyone is already stumbling out of the gate. Then, UCC’s Professor Theresa Reidy takes us inside the machinery of a modern presidential campaign: the poster wars, the social media battles, the set-piece TV debates, the all-important turnout, and whether the final result will come down to transfers. 

If you want to understand not just who’s in the running but how the next four weeks will really play out, this is the place to start. 

👥 Guests: Gerard Howlin, Public Affairs Consultant, Political Advisor, and Irish Times Columnist, and Professor Theresa Reidy, School of Government, University College Cork; Co-editor of How Ireland Voted series 

📢 There’ll be lots of presidential coverage across Newstalk and the GoLoud network over the coming weeks. Keep an eye on 🌐 newstalk.com and 📸 @newstalkfm on Instagram for more details.