Presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan has failed to get a nomination from Carlow County Council.
The businessman had already secured the backing of two local authorities.
Anyone hoping to get their name on the ballot requires the support of four councils or 20 members of the Oireachtas.
Mr Sheridan came to Carlow County Council with two county council nominations already in the bag and was hoping to pick up a third.
He was the only prospective candidate to get a proposer and seconder allowing him present to the council meeting.
After speaking for five minutes, he then took questions from many of the 18 councillors.
Then came the vote on a single proposal that the council nominate Mr Sheridan to contest the presidential election.
Eleven councillors voted against and seven in favour.
Afterwards, Mr Sheridan said he remained hopeful of a nomination from other councils.
"Right now, we're looking at a three horse race if nothing changes - and two horses from the same stable," he said.
Mr Sheridan is due to address Meath, Offaly and Louth county councils on Monday.
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Former Cork lord mayor backed by Waterford council
Meanwhile, Waterford City and County Council has nominated former Cork lord mayor, Councillor Kieran McCarthy, for the presidency.
The council heard presentations from 11 candidates at a special meeting in Dungarvan.
Independent Councillor Joe O'Riordan proposed Cllr McCarthy, who was then seconded by another independent, Cllr Joe Kelly.
Mr McCarthy, who is an independent councillor for Cork City Council, received 11 votes in favour of his candidacy, ten against and five abstentions.
Meanwhile, South Dublin County Council has decided not to support any candidate in the Presidential election.
Earlier today the Council heard from five candidates but they were not addressed by either Maria Steen or Gavin Sheridan
The meeting was held in camera and the vote was taken just before 7pm this evening.
Healy-Rae says he will nominate Steen
Earlier, Maria Steen has won the backing of more members of the Oireachtas in her bid to get on the presidential ballot paper, after Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae said he would be signing nomination papers for her.
Her campaign is also hopeful of securing the backing of a 13th member before the end of the day.
The barrister and family rights campaigner requires 20 nominations from Oireachtas members to become a presidential nominee.
The Independent Ireland party, which has four Oireachtas members, has said it would give its support to a candidate if they received the backing of 16 members of the Dáil or Seanad.
The close of nominations for the presidency is midday on Wednesday next.
Minister Healy-Rae said that while he would be "100% backing" Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys' campaign, he said in the "spirt of fairness and respect for the democratic process", he wanted to give Ms Steen the opportunity to contest the election.
"Signing a nomination paper is not a signal of electoral support, it is simply ensuring that the people of Ireland are given a fair and full choice when they go to the polls. That is the foundation of democracy, and it is something I will always stand by," he added in a statement.
Independent TD Paul Gogarty has confirmed to RTÉ News he was one of first group of Oireachtas members to agree to support Maria Steen's effort to get a presidential nomination.
Deputy Gogarty says he will facilitate Ms Steen's nomination by signing her papers.
He said he attended the meeting on 11 September when Ms Steen and three others spoke to a number of TDs and Senators about getting nominations.
Deputy Gogarty said he will facilitate Ms Steen in the interest of democracy and the election even though he does not share all her views.
Separately, Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins confirmed that following a request received by the party from Ms Steen yesterday afternoon, the party has agreed to meet with her to discuss her nomination for the presidency.
That meeting will take place on Monday.
Independent Ireland, which has four TDs, said they have been discussing presidential candidacy options with like minded Independent Oireachtas members.
"We are a party that prefers to work quietly and diplomatically with others and we will continue that process in the coming days," Mr Collins said.
Meanwhile, the Green Party has endorsed Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly.
Party leader Roderic O'Gorman said: "Deputy Connolly has a long track record of advocacy for vulnerable and marginalised groups within Irish society.
"We have no doubt that she will continue to give voice to these groups if she is elected."
Mr O'Gorman said his party had been "particularly impressed" with how Ms Connolly has "placed advocacy against the genocide in Gaza, and the issue of climate change, at the centre of her election campaign".
This afternoon Ms Humphreys officially handed in her nomination papers to run for president.
Speaking as she left the Custom House, Ms Humphreys said: "The whistle has blown and the ball is in."
Polling in the Presidential Election is scheduled for Friday 24 October with a result not expected until late on Saturday night.
Burns rules out election run for SF
It comes as the President of the GAA Jarlath Burns re-confirmed that he will not be standing in the forthcoming Presidential Election, while Maria Steen has received further backing to get on the ballot paper.
There had been renewed speculation about Mr Burns following Mary Lou McDonald's comments yesterday that Sinn Féin's participation in the Presidential Election campaign would be a "game-changer".
However, Mr Burns said this morning that he is not going to be the party's candidate as he will continue his work in his present role.
Sinn Féin has been mulling over its approach to the race for Áras an Uachtaráin, with two options at its disposal - either run its own candidate or back Ms Connolly's campaign.
Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly yesterday, Ms McDonald said that she knew the proposal she would be bringing to the party but that it would not be made public until tomorrow.
"I think Sinn Féin's participation will be a game-changer in this election. It'll be very much game on.
"The leadership will bring its decision, make it public on Saturday. We're going to be very active in this very important campaign," said Ms McDonald.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate Jim Gavin handed in his nomination papers at the Custom House this morning.
Fianna Fail presidential candidate Jim Gavin @gavinforthearas has officially handed in his nomination papers to run in #Aras25 pic.twitter.com/YWr4lXcV3V
— Fiachra Ó Cionnaith 😊 (@Ocionnaith) September 19, 2025
Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan said people will "know tomorrow" Sinn Féin's position on the Presidential Election.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Boylan said she "honestly" does not know what the party's intention is, whether to endorse an existing candidate or announce its own.
"I'm not on the Árd Comhairle so I'll be finding out when everyone else is finding out tomorrow," she said.
She said there was a "very lengthy consultation process" and that she contributed her views on whether Sinn Féin should stand its own candidate or support someone else.
Ms Boylan said she was not disappointed that Sinn Féin's leader, Mary Lou McDonald, decided to rule herself out of the election because she is a "big supporter" of Ms McDonald and that she wants to see her as taoiseach.
"I think she's a formidable politician and she has a long future ahead of her in politics and I'd like to see her in that role, where she could really effect change for the country," she said.
Additional reporting Marty Morrissey
