LAST UPDATE
|
43 mins ago
IT’S ALMOST SHOWTIME – the three presidential candidates will face off in the first television debate of the campaign on Virgin Media One later this evening.
Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin and Independent Catherine Connolly will have the first chance to set their stalls out to the nation on a special episode of the Tonight Show at 10pm.
The trail so far has been a little lacklustre, but there are hopes that the TV debate could ignite the campaign, with less than a month to go until the polls open.
Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys are viewed as proven debate performers, based on their years of Dáil contributions. Will political novice Jim Gavin be able to hold his own against his two more experienced rivals?
The Journal understands the show will take its usual format, with the three candidates sitting side by side in pre-agreed seats opposite Tonight Show host Kieran Cuddihy.
We’ll be liveblogging the debate here, and bringing you some highlights and analysis afterwards – so watch this space.
Got any questions or thoughts on the debate? Get in touch by email to andrew.walsh@thejournal.ie
25 mins ago
8:51PM
Need a refresher on how presidential debates have gone in recent years? Political Correspondent Jane Matthews has the explainer you need here
26 mins ago
8:50PM
Here’s how the debate is going to look:
Moderator and host Kieran Cuddihy will give each candidate a 60-second opening pitch and 30 seconds to close.
Seating was decided by a draw – Catherine Connolly is in the middle, flanked by Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys, with the former Dublin football bainisteoir sitting closest to Cuddihy.
For the duration of the debate, Cuddihy has promised that all three candidates will “tackle the big issues that will decide the election”.
📺 Presidential Debate | @TonightVMTV | 10 PM
The race for the presidency is on as Jim Gavin, Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly face off in the first TV debate of the campaign. With voting on Oct 24, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the candidates. pic.twitter.com/UlnMDrNRe6
— Virgin Media News (@VirginMediaNews) September 29, 2025
29 mins ago
8:47PM
Welcome to our live coverage of tonight’s presidential debate on Virgin Media’s Tonight Show. We’ll be bringing you the key moments, sharp exchanges, and a bit of colour from the scene as it happens.
