The IFA presidential field is getting pretty crowded, with four nominated candidates and more to follow.

A presidential candidate must first be nominated by their own county executive. The first man to be so honoured was livestock committee chair Henry Burns, when the Laois executive met on Wednesday 15 December. The following night, Michael Silke withdrew from the election. “I entered the race on the understanding that the IFA would change its structures and act with a sense of urgency to support grassroots members in the wake of the report,” Silke said. “However, it is clear to me now that no such changes are being made. I don’t think the top branch of the IFA is acting urgently on Lucey’s report and I think the east-west divide in the organisation will continue.”

On Monday night, Cork Central endorsed Tim O’Leary, Carlow nominated Derek Deane, and Monaghan selected Nigel Reneghan, the poultry committee chair. That is four candidates formally in the race already.

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To get to the starting line, they now each need five further nominations from among the 29 county chairs. That means a maximum of four candidates, but the field is likely to get more crowded. Rural development chair Flor McCarthy is seeking the presidency, with the Kerry executive meeting on Monday 4 January. Tim Cullinan is also understood to be seeking nominations, with the Tipperary North executive scheduled to meet after Christmas.

There could be a seventh contender. Bringing things back full circle to Galway, former Macra president Joe Healy was nominated from the floor of last Thursday’s Galway executive. The Athenry man is taking a few days to consider whether to accept the nomination and enter the race. It is understood support for him was expressed at the Waterford meeting. The west could yet have its candidate.