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1997 Irish presidential election

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FieldValue
election_name1997 Irish presidential election
countryIreland
typepresidential
ongoingno
previous_election1990 Irish presidential election
previous_year1990
next_election2004 Irish presidential election
next_year2004
turnout47.6% ( 16.5 pp)
1blank1st preference
2blankFinal count
election_date30 October 1997
image1
nominee1Mary McAleese
party1Fianna Fáil
alliance1Progressive Democrats
1data1**574,424 (45.2%)**
2data1**706,259 (55.6%)**
image2
nominee2Mary Banotti
party2Fine Gael
1data2372,002 (29.3%)
2data2497,516 (39.2%)
image3
nominee3Dana Rosemary Scallon
party3Independent politician (Ireland)
1data3175,458 (13.8%)
2data3*Eliminated*
image4
nominee4Adi Roche
party4Labour Party (Ireland)
alliance4
1data488,423 (7.0%)
2data4*Eliminated*
image5**Ind**
nominee5Derek Nally
party5Independent politician (Ireland)
1data559,529 (4.7%)
2data5*Eliminated*
titlePresident
before_electionMary Robinson
after_electionMary McAleese
after_partyFianna Fáil

The 1997 Irish presidential election was held on Thursday, 30 October 1997. It was the eleventh presidential election to be held in Ireland, and only the sixth to be contested by more than one candidate. It was held ahead of schedule when incumbent President Mary Robinson resigned to assume her new appointment as the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Candidates

The Minister for the Environment and Local Government made the order opening nominations on 15 September, with 30 September as the deadline for nominations. Five people received nominations, the highest number contesting to that point; four of the five were women.

Mary McAleese

Mary McAleese was selected by Fianna Fáil as their candidate for the presidency. Born in Belfast, she was formerly a journalist with broadcaster, RTÉ, and at the time of her nomination, she was Pro-Vice Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast. Two other candidates, Albert Reynolds and Michael O'Kennedy, had also sought the Fianna Fáil nomination. Reynolds was a former Taoiseach while O'Kennedy was a former cabinet minister having served in the Finance and Foreign Affairs portfolios. Both were also sitting TDs which was seen as an advantage. In the first round of voting, Reynolds received 49 votes, McAleese 42, and O'Kennedy 21. In the second round, McAleese won, with 62 votes to Reynolds's 48. McAleese was later also endorsed by the Progressive Democrats, the smaller party in the coalition government with Fianna Fáil.

Mary Banotti

Mary Banotti was nominated by Fine Gael. She was the grand-niece of the former Irish leader, Michael Collins, and sister of the deputy leader of the party, Nora Owen. She defeated colleague Avril Doyle for the party nomination in a very close contest. Banotti, who was an MEP at the time, was the only serving politician among the five presidential candidates.

Adi Roche

Adi Roche, who had founded Chernobyl Children International in 1991, was nominated by the Labour Party. Roche was later endorsed by Democratic Left and the Green Party. At 42 years of age, she was and is the youngest person to stand in an Irish presidential election.

Dana Rosemary Scallon

Dana Rosemary Scallon received the nominations of five county councils: Donegal, Kerry, Longford, North Tipperary and Wicklow. Scallon was a singer, the winner of the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest, and a family values campaigner. She was the first candidate in any Irish presidential election to have been nominated by local authorities, rather than by Oireachtas members.

Derek Nally

Derek Nally was the fifth candidate to join the presidential race and the only male candidate. He was a retired Garda and victims' rights campaigner. He also received the nominations of five county councils: Carlow, Clare, Kildare, South Dublin and Wexford.

Campaign

The Presidential campaign, held before the forthcoming Good Friday Agreement of 1998, would become dominated by Northern Ireland issues and questions about candidates' views on Irish Republicanism.

McAleese enjoyed the full backing of the powerful Fianna Fáil electoral machine, and she emphasised her north–south background amid fragile peace prospects, while Banotti stressed her parliamentary experience and family legacy (Banotti was the grand-niece of Michael Collins). Roche campaigned on her international humanitarian credentials. Scallon ran a grassroots "people's campaign" spotlighting family values, and Nally's platform centred on victims’ rights and policing reform.

Adi Roche entered the race in good standing on the back of her charitable work, and initially polled extremely well at 38%, raising the possibility of another upset win by the Labour Party. However, Roche's campaign was severely undermined by a covert smear campaign focused on her brother Dónal de Róiste, a former Army officer who had been summarily and controversially dismissed from the Defence Forces in 1969. Anonymous letters and phone calls were circulated to media outlets during the campaign, suggesting links between her brother and Irish republican paramilitaries. Though no evidence of wrongdoing was ever produced and the allegations were later discredited, the innuendo damaged Roche's polling badly, falling down to 7% shortly before election day. She ultimately placed fourth out of five candidates. In later years, Roche described the experience as traumatising and politically vicious, noting it had a long-lasting impact on her self-confidence. Her brother was formally exonerated and issued a State apology in 2022 after a government review found his dismissal had been legally flawed and procedurally unjust.

Likewise, Mary McAleese was also peppered with questions relating to possible links to Irish republicanism. Questions about Mary McAleese's attitude to Sinn Féin first emerged when the Sunday Business Post of 12 October 1997 published leaked Department of Foreign Affairs memos suggesting she had expressed pleasure at Sinn Féin's electoral performance and would not back a presidential contest without a Sinn Féin–SDLP pact. The memos were quickly seized upon by rival candidate Derek Nally, who accused McAleese of operating "a different set of moral assumptions" compared to "most Irish people", and demanded she explain whether she had ever voted for or supported Sinn Féin. Further speculation mounted following 16 October, when President of Sinn Féin Gerry Adams stated his preferred candidate was McAleese.

On RTÉ's Questions and Answers, journalist Geraldine Kennedy pressed her directly, asking "Did you ever vote for Sinn Féin?". McAleese strenuously denied the accuracy of the leaked documents, issuing a statement through her campaign that she had never voted for Sinn Féin and repudiating any implication of republican sympathy. She subsequently challenged the department official responsible for the leak to legal action, though no lawsuit ensued. The Irish Times editorial later urged her to provide "the frankest explanation" of her views on Sinn Féin and the broader peace process if confidence in her fitness for office was to be restored. Despite the intensity of the controversy, no evidence emerged to substantiate the allegations.

During the campaign, Derek Nally, a former garda and long-standing critic of police brutality, claimed that a group of former gardaí had threatened his life. He called on these individuals to identify themselves, stating: "I want to be able to identify the people who are making the threats and identify my possible assassins". The threat, discussed on RTÉ's Prime Time, allegedly came from those angered by Nally's past whistleblowing against the so-called "heavy gang" within the Garda Síochána in the 1970s. He insisted the group's motives were linked to his efforts back then to expose prisoner mistreatment and misconduct, which he had brought to the attention of then-Minister for Justice Paddy Cooney. Nally also drew parallels with alleged smear attempts against fellow candidate Adi Roche, suggesting there was a campaign by ex-gardaí to undermine certain candidates. However, both the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors denied any knowledge of such a plot.

Opinion polls

Last date of pollingCommissionerPolling firmSample sizeSourcesMcAleeseBanottiScallonRocheNallyFianna Fáil}};"Fine Gael}};"Independent}};"Labour Party (Ireland)}};"Independent}};"
27 October 1997*The Irish Times*MRBI?last= Jonesfirst=Jackdate=2001title= In your opinion : political and social trends in Ireland through the eyes of the electorateurl=https://archive.org/details/inyouropinionpol0000jonelocation=publisher=TownHousepage=171isbn=1860591493url-status=archive-url=archive-date =access-date=21 December 2025}}**46%**30%10%8%5%
25 October 1997*Irish Independent*IMS?**49%**32%7%7%5%
23 October 1997*Irish Independent*IMS?**45%**32%10%8%5%
22 October 1997*The Irish Times*MRBI?**42%**33%9%9%6%
11 October 1997*The Irish Times*MRBI?**39%**29%8%16%9%
27 September 1997*The Irish Times*MRBI?**40%**27%8%25%

Result

Results by constituency

ConstituencyBanottiMcAleeseNallyRocheScallon
Carlow–Kilkenny11,962Fianna Fáil}}"**19,949**3,0402,9365,177
Cavan–Monaghan9,299Fianna Fáil}}"**21,749**1,1221,3736,346
Clare8,353Fianna Fáil}}"**17,970**1,6371,8895,095
Cork East8,859Fianna Fáil}}"**15,598**1,0633,4444,450
Cork North-Central8,348Fianna Fáil}}"**14,322**1,1944,8083,742
Cork North-West8,214Fianna Fáil}}"**13,086**7762,2913,567
Cork South-Central12,609Fianna Fáil}}"**19,410**1,8945,4344,461
Cork South-West8,808Fianna Fáil}}"**12,616**8252,2083,016
Donegal North-East3,313Fianna Fáil}}"**11,008**5757485,136
Donegal South-West3,958Fianna Fáil}}"**11,060**5458265,025
Dublin Central6,864Fianna Fáil}}"**9,226**1,1751,6052,920
Dublin North10,161Fianna Fáil}}"**12,599**1,2911,9183,364
Dublin North-Central10,789Fianna Fáil}}"**12,949**1,3421,9464,044
Dublin North-East8,728Fianna Fáil}}"**10,132**1,1141,7702,890
Dublin North-West7,806Fianna Fáil}}"**9,910**1,1801,7693,037
Dublin SouthFine Gael}}"**18,766**16,0531,9902,5895,360
Dublin South-CentralFine Gael}}"**10,900**10,6361,3751,9093,636
Dublin South-EastFine Gael}}"**12,692**9,3381,0561,8853,403
Dublin South-West8,879Fianna Fáil}}"**10,366**1,5391,8333,384
Dublin West8,965Fianna Fáil}}"**10,678**1,5041,6753,363
Dún LaoghaireFine Gael}}"**18,415**14,3101,6322,6964,882
Galway East7,352Fianna Fáil}}"**15,979**1,0761,2855,044
Galway West9,495Fianna Fáil}}"**16,707**1,4372,0125,320
Kerry North5,266Fianna Fáil}}"**10,753**6893,0393,367
Kerry South5,384Fianna Fáil}}"**11,586**7782,0753,162
Kildare North7,657Fianna Fáil}}"**9,496**1,2421,4833,101
Kildare South6,052Fianna Fáil}}"**9,204**1,0391,4262,372
Laois–Offaly10,878Fianna Fáil}}"**20,398**1,7392,0906,188
Limerick East11,529Fianna Fáil}}"**15,080**1,7142,2354,998
Limerick West6,999Fianna Fáil}}"**11,823**8861,2013,722
Longford–Roscommon8,212Fianna Fáil}}"**15,654**1,4561,1596,175
Louth7,322Fianna Fáil}}"**16,356**1,2281,9834,337
Mayo10,923Fianna Fáil}}"**21,174**1,3481,6666,601
Meath11,338Fianna Fáil}}"**18,584**1,4872,1235,898
Sligo–Leitrim7,909Fianna Fáil}}"**16,162**1,0441,6705,290
Tipperary North7,547Fianna Fáil}}"**13,316**1,5502,1583,802
Tipperary South6,928Fianna Fáil}}"**11,865**8324,1873,092
Waterford8,243Fianna Fáil}}"**15,769**1,4062,2293,887
Westmeath5,969Fianna Fáil}}"**10,653**1,1601,5613,770
Wexford8,779Fianna Fáil}}"**16,713**7,4052,4154,061
Wicklow11,532Fianna Fáil}}"**14,187**2,1442,8744,973
Total372,002574,42459,52988,423175,458
ConstituencyBanottiMcAleeseVotes%Votes%
Carlow–Kilkenny16,47440.5%Fianna Fáil}}"**24,295**Fianna Fáil}}"**59.5%**
Cavan–Monaghan12,15931.9%Fianna Fáil}}"**26,015**Fianna Fáil}}"**68.1%**
Clare11,54234.7%Fianna Fáil}}"**21,766**Fianna Fáil}}"**65.3%**
Cork East12,20538.9%Fianna Fáil}}"**19,218**Fianna Fáil}}"**61.1%**
Cork North-Central12,20140.3%Fianna Fáil}}"**18,139**Fianna Fáil}}"**59.7%**
Cork North-West10,68740.4%Fianna Fáil}}"**15,825**Fianna Fáil}}"**59.6%**
Cork South-Central17,02141.1%Fianna Fáil}}"**24,437**Fianna Fáil}}"**58.9%**
Cork South-West11,32643.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**15,056**Fianna Fáil}}"**57.0%**
Donegal North-East4,84425.6%Fianna Fáil}}"**14,113**Fianna Fáil}}"**74.4%**
Donegal South-West5,57328.4%Fianna Fáil}}"**14,060**Fianna Fáil}}"**71.6%**
Dublin Central9,14044.7%Fianna Fáil}}"**11,349**Fianna Fáil}}"**55.3%**
Dublin North13,01346.3%Fianna Fáil}}"**15,149**Fianna Fáil}}"**53.7%**
Dublin North-Central13,90346.8%Fianna Fáil}}"**15,843**Fianna Fáil}}"**53.2%**
Dublin North-East11,11447.4%Fianna Fáil}}"**12,374**Fianna Fáil}}"**52.6%**
Dublin North-West10,33746.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**12,180**Fianna Fáil}}"**54.0%**
Dublin SouthFine Gael}}"**23,436**Fine Gael}}"**54.3%**19,77945.7%
Dublin South-CentralFine Gael}}"**13,887**Fine Gael}}"**51.4%**13,18248.6%
Dublin South-EastFine Gael}}"**15,703**Fine Gael}}"**57.6%**11,56842.4%
Dublin South-West11,73447.6%Fianna Fáil}}"**12,920**Fianna Fáil}}"**52.4%**
Dublin West11,84847.4%Fianna Fáil}}"**13,199**Fianna Fáil}}"**52.6%**
Dún LaoghaireFine Gael}}"**22,745**Fine Gael}}"**56.3%**17,67843.7%
Galway East10,00334.2%Fianna Fáil}}"**19,318**Fianna Fáil}}"**65.8%**
Galway West12,97438.9%Fianna Fáil}}"**20,418**Fianna Fáil}}"**61.1%**
Kerry North7,94237.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**13,546**Fianna Fáil}}"**63.0%**
Kerry South7,63135.2%Fianna Fáil}}"**14,109**Fianna Fáil}}"**64.8%**
Kildare North10,20946.6%Fianna Fáil}}"**11,741**Fianna Fáil}}"**53.4%**
Kildare South7,97642.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**11,039**Fianna Fáil}}"**58.0%**
Laois–Offaly14,48537.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**24,761**Fianna Fáil}}"**63.0%**
Limerick East15,20845.2%Fianna Fáil}}"**18,493**Fianna Fáil}}"**54.8%**
Limerick West9,08238.9%Fianna Fáil}}"**14,277**Fianna Fáil}}"**61.1%**
Longford–Roscommon11,21636.5%Fianna Fáil}}"**19,555**Fianna Fáil}}"**63.5%**
Louth10,01534.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**19,527**Fianna Fáil}}"**66.0%**
Mayo14,34336.0%Fianna Fáil}}"**25,551**Fianna Fáil}}"**64.0%**
Meath15,02640.2%Fianna Fáil}}"**22,430**Fianna Fáil}}"**59.8%**
Sligo–Leitrim10,72935.1%Fianna Fáil}}"**19,912**Fianna Fáil}}"**64.9%**
Tipperary North10,37538.8%Fianna Fáil}}"**16,373**Fianna Fáil}}"**61.2%**
Tipperary South10,12940.3%Fianna Fáil}}"**15,065**Fianna Fáil}}"**59.7%**
Waterford11,07037.2%Fianna Fáil}}"**18,760**Fianna Fáil}}"**62.8%**
Westmeath8,36238.6%Fianna Fáil}}"**13,347**Fianna Fáil}}"**61.4%**
Wexford14,14339.1%Fianna Fáil}}"**22,064**Fianna Fáil}}"**60.9%**
Wicklow15,70646.9%Fianna Fáil}}"**17,828**Fianna Fáil}}"**53.1%**
Total497,51639.2%706,25955.6%

Footnotes

References

References

  1. The powers and functions of the president were exercised and performed by the [[Presidential Commission (Ireland). Presidential Commission]] from the resignation of Mary Robinson on 12 September until the inauguration of Mary McAleese on 11 November.
  2. O'Sullivan, Roddy. (16 September 1997). "Two weeks for nominations". [[The Irish Times]].
  3. (24 September 1997). "McAleese's candidacy endorsed by PDs". [[The Irish Times]].
  4. Hogan, Dick. (16 September 1997). "Champion of Chernobyl victims to run for Presidency".
  5. (22 September 1997). "Charity workers stand by criticism of Roche".
  6. Newman, Christine. (17 September 1997). "Dana promises a people's campaign for Presidency".
  7. (29 October 1997). "Derek Nally - an arresting candidate".
  8. (30 September 1997). "Four more councils agree to give Nally nomination".
  9. (28 October 1007). "Final poll says it's McAleese by a mile". [[Irish Independent]].
  10. White, Jack. (6 August 2025). "‘It knocked my self-belief’: Adi Roche reflects on ‘shockingly dirty’ presidential campaign". [[Irish Times]].
  11. Clifford, Mick. "The smear campaign that derailed Adi Roche's Áras bid". [[Irish Examiner]].
  12. Leahy, Pat. (7 December 2022). "Ex-Army lieutenant Dónal de Róiste gets Government apology 53 years after dismissal". [[Irish Times]].
  13. (16 October 1997). "Nally in tangle on issue of leaked memo". [[Irish Times]].
  14. Kennedy, Geraldine. (17 October 1997). "Adams backing causes election row". [[Irish Times]].
  15. Dooley, Chris. (14 October 1997). "McAleese challenges accuracy of report on views about Sinn Fein". [[The Irish Times]].
  16. (20 October 1997). "McAleese must give frank explanation of views". [[Irish Times]].
  17. (20 October 2011). "1997 campaign's ‘heavy gang’ claims". [[Irish Examiner]].
  18. Jones, Jack. (2001). "In your opinion : political and social trends in Ireland through the eyes of the electorate". TownHouse.
  19. "Presidential Elections 1938–2011". [[Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
  20. "Presidential Elections 1938–2011". [[Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
  21. "Presidential Elections 1938–2011". [[Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
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