Jim Gavin chosen as Fianna Fáil presidential candidate

Jim Gavin has been selected as Fianna Fáil's candidate for next month's presidential election.

The six-time Dublin All-Ireland SFC winning manager and FRC chairperson defeated Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher in a secret ballot of the parliamentary party by 41 votes to 29. The 54-year-old, who also won the Sam Maguire as a player in 1995, had a career in the Defence Forces, but has never been on a ballot paper before.

"I've served for 20 years in Óglaigh na hÉireann," he told RTÉ's Six One News

"My life has been really entwined by service, service to people, service to the community, service to the country and that's what speaks to me".