Mayo4TheAras? Garron Noone gets surprising support in next Irish President poll

Ireland will elect a new president later this year as Michael D Higgins ends his second term in Áras an Uachtarain and with that in mind, we asked you who you would vote for - some even picked Mayo's own Garron Noone as their preferred candidate.

Michael D was first elected to the position in 2011 and was re-elected for a second term in 2018. Peter Casey finished second on that occasion while Sean Gallagher was second in 2011. The latter two received no votes in our reader poll this time around.

The race for the Áras has ramped up recently when MMA fighter Conor McGregor said he was going to throw his hat in the ring and run for President. This followed his meeting with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. A Sunday Independent poll suggests the controversial fighter would only attract votes from 7% of the population while our poll put him at 10%, second to a big favourite.

While the bookies have established singer and senator Frances Black as the favourite, our poll showed MEP Mairead McGuinness as far and away the preferred candidate. She received 18% of votes cast in our online poll.

READ MORE: Five Mayo players who caught our eye against Sligo

Tommy Tiernan was third on 9%, while Frances Black was chosen by 6% of people, the same percentage achieved by Mayo funnyman Garron Noone. 

Bertie Ahern received 5%, as did Catherine Connolly, while Gerry Adams polled at 4% along with Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar. 

As many people chose Roy Keane (3%) as Mary Lou McDonald (3%), Donald Trump (3%) and Michael McDowell (3%).

GAA President Jarlath Burns and Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary both attracted 2% of our vote.

RESULTS - WHO WOULD YOU VOTE FOR AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF IRELAND?

Mairead McGuinness 18%
Conor McGregor 10%
Tommy Tiernan9%
Frances Black 6%
Garron Noone 6%
Bertie Ahern 5%
Catherine Connolly 5%
Gerry Adams 4%
Micheál Martin 4%
Leo Varadkar 4%
Roy Keane 3%
Mary Lou McDonald 3%
Michael McDowell 3%
Donald Trump 3%
Heather Humphreys 2%
Jarlath Burns 2%
Michael O'Leary 2%
Frances Fitzgerald 1%
Ryan Tubridy 1%
Catherine Murphy 1%
Holly Cairns 1%
Enda Kenny 1%
Michael Lowry 1%
Simon Coveney 1%
Verona Murphy 1%
Roisin Shortall 1%
Cynthia Ni Mhurchu 1%
Eamon O'Cuiv 1%