Sean Kelly has withdrawn his name from the race to be the Fine Gael Presidential candidate.
The move means Heather Humphreys will contest the election for the party.
Northern Sound FM understands that the former minister and Cavan Monaghan TD will be ratified following a national Fine Gael Executive meeting that will be held tomorrow.
Sean Kelly had said he believed a contest for the Presidential nomination within Fine Gael would be good for the party - after coronations for Simon Harris and Mairead McGuinness in their respective campaigns. But this evening Kelly bowed out of the race, ahead of tomorrow's noon-time deadline for the close of nominations.
Speaking to RTE Radio One this evening, Mr Kelly described his nomination hope as up hill battle from the beginning. He wished the best to Heather Humphreys, adding that believes a lot of members at grassroots level are disappointed that there was no contest.
Kelly said he couldn't reach the required number of 20 members of the parliamentary party backing him to get on the ballot. Instead - he thanked his supporters, who he called the 12 apostles, and those at local authority and grassroots level in the party who supported him and encouraged him to run.
It means Heather Humphreys will be the new Fine Gael candidate for the Presidency. The former Minister and ex Deputy leader of the party will be ratified at a convention - all this coming almost 11 months after she decided to retire from politics.
