Paddy Power today installed 2FM jock Gerry Ryan at 50/1 into the betting to be the next Irish President after several customers rang up requesting a price on him to step into Mary McAleese’s shoes in Aras An Uachtarain.

But the top morning jock will have to beat off stiff competition from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern who is the 2/1 favourite to take the top job in 2011. Other Presidential possibles on the bookies list include Mairead McGuinness at 8/1, Mary O’Rourke at 14/1 and Bono’s wife Ali Hewson at 16/1. Even Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary features in the betting, albeit an outsider at 100/1!              

As well as betting on whether Gerry will take up residence in Phoenix Park, Paddy Power are taking bets on whether he’ll actually go ahead and run for President in 2011. It’s odds-on at 1/5 that he won’t while it’s 3/1 he does.

Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power said: “Gerry is such a massive personality and the public love him. He has stated he’s interested in adding politics to his repertoire but it’s hard to know whether Gerry would be genuinely interested in running for President. If he does, he’s got to be in with a fighting chance given how popular he is.” 

Will Gerry run for President in 2011?

    1/5    No
    3/1    Yes

Next President of Ireland

    2/1    Bertie Ahern

    8/1    Mairead McGuinness

  12/1    Brian Crowley

  12/1    Marian Harkin

  14/1    Mary O’Rourke

  14/1    Sean Kelly (ex GAA President)

  16/1    Mary Davis

  16/1    Ali Hewson

  18/1    Eamon Ryan

  20/1    Michael D.Higgins

  20/1    Mary Hanafin

  20/1    Mary White

  22/1    Charlie McCreevy

  25/1    Maura Geoghegan Quinn

  25/1    John Bruton

  25/1    Gerry Adams

  25/1    David Norris

  25/1    Liz McManus

  25/1    Seamus Heaney

  33/1    Ivana Bacik

  33/1    Fergal Quinn

  33/1    Trevor Sargent

  40/1    Paul Hewson (Bono)

  40/1    Albert Reynolds

  40/1    Dick Roche

  40/1    Martin McAleese

  50/1    Gerry Ryan

  66/1    Eddie Hobbs

  66/1    Mary Lou McDonald

  66/1    Prof. Brian Farrell

100/1    Roy Keane

100/1    Michael O'Leary

100/1    Judge A. Mahon

250/1    Louis Walsh

500/1    Shane McGowan