That’s the first sensible comment we’ve had

Absolutely brilliant Michaelisms!

Fantastic stuff , sheer genius

I think you could be on to something The Baxter

After the News RTE Presents

“Celebrities Take it up The Aras”
or
“I cant believe I am not the President”
or
“Statesman or Oblivion”
or
“Uactaran Nuactaran”
or
“Fianna Fail? Not Me”
or
“Jockeys Bollix: The Race for the Presidency”
or

I will give you just one example as to why he "qualifies" in my eyes – just three years ago , a bunch of people , including yours truly , were organising our fundraising for the Niall Mellon Township Trust, towards building housing for the poor in Africa and asked Micheal to MC our function – not only did he do a wonderfully articulate job in this, in describing what strides our little Country makes at home and abroad , but he refused any payment, or travel expenses, for his great nights work.

He further rounded off his great nights work by recruiting himself as a Volunteer and headed out the following March in 2009 to South Africa , working his ten hour day for seven days , like every other Volunteer

– A true Irish Hero , with massive articulation , culture and true class !

Qualifications to becoming a president? Which ones are you talking about? And which other candidate has those qualifications you talk about? Micheal is a true Irish man, fluent in our language. He is involved in community activities all of his life along with charitable venturing to assist the lesser off. He treats people with respect, he believes in equality and loves his country. He is the most "IRISH" person I can think of and his life long experiences would assist us as a nation. The office of president is largely apolitical and pro ambassadorial and Michael would excel at this. He is a proud and true Irishman, what other qualifications would you like?

Eddie; So your basing your reasons to give him a number one vote because he was a good MC and didn’t take money from a charity event (obviously most people still would, and rob ya blind while giving a shite presentation – bloody Irish!) and topped it off by going ahead and volunteering himself?

If that’s the case, I can think of a bunch of students down here in Waterford who would be good for the role. Actually, now that I come to think of it, I can think of many many other deserving candidates who worked very hard for a charity and raised not only money but got their hands dirty doing it.

Good to know what basic requirements you believe a president should have anyway! :)

A brilliant example of the Irish penchant for ‘parish politics’, he done me a favour, looked after me and my little group and now i’ll vote for him. Gombeenism at it best!

If you read his autobiography, you’ll quickly realise he is more than just a football commentator. I’m delighted he may be entering the race, better than the confirmed funeral goers already in the race.

Zero interest in him or his autobiography John.

Says more about you than him I’m afraid. You’re judging a book by it’s cover. Would love to know who you’re voting for because there aren’t many great covers out there.

The fact that I’m not interested in a football commentator says more about me than him? Come on now!

That’s a nonsense comment. The Irish people are demanding an apolitical president who is a proud Irish person and can represent us internationally. By the sounds of it, you are happy with the current line-up. Care to say where your vote is off to?

Articulate what "experience" to be a President of Ireland is please ?

What other experience are you talking about? List them.

Are you guys stalking out this page to defend him? Are you the people he is on about who asked him to run? :p

In my view, and its just an opinion, you should be;
- A tad younger. The chap is 80, making him 87 when him term is over. Fair enough, age is only a number but a lot of us sadly don’t live until we are 90. The president will do a lot of travelling, speeches, meeting other political leaders etc. so its not a walk in the park. He would only be able to do one term anyway more than likely.

- Political background. Legislation will come before him and he must sign it in, or refer it onto the council at least for further consideration. How does a man with no political knowledge in the slightest get to grasps of ensuring the right legislation goes through? Someone with good political knowledge should be in the role for this reason, but others also. He will be visited by other heads of state, if not visiting other heads of states and other areas. Having no clue who these people are, their background or history it would be a tad embarrassing sending over some random joe soap who Ireland only know because he commented on Irish sport. He wouldn’t know anybody, or anything about them.

- Throwing a nobody (effectively he is, no offense) into the race makes a mockery of the system. The person should be well able to represent Ireland as a whole. Understand Ireland politically and socially. Understand politics and how the whole thing works.

While the presidency is a fairly dumbed down role and a pointless waste of money, which probably is best represented by the Taoiseach in the first place, we shouldn’t be electing any old random sod a lot of people know (and a lot of people don’t know, not like Gaybo) just because we don’t have a high regard for the role or fully understand it.

This person represents our state and is a figure head. Take it seriously for that reason alone, for our image abroad. Elect someone who is able for the job and politically aware and not somebody who is a common household name. Sending an 80 year old man around the place who hasn’t a bulls notion about how things work here or abroad, or who these people visiting him are and whats appropriate and not appropriate to say in a speech (you get help, but going in blind makes helping someone very difficult), what legislation looks and sounds dodgy, etc. is completely daft and makes us Irish look like a bunch of idiots.

interestingly none of the detractors have yet listed the experience needed to be President o Ireland. I think the current list, with or without DN, were/are a poor choice to be my representative as head of state. However M O’M would represent alot of what is great about Ireland – a deep rooted unique culture of language, communication, charity, openness and family that has supported and continues to support Irish people both near and far no matter how far removed from Ireland they may be.
Many many people around the globe like to champion their Irish heritage, and that vision of Irish heritage they have is more aligned to Michael O Muircheartaigh than the other prospective candidates; even if he is “only a GAA comentator” — what a bunch of snobs you are

Kevin, if I had to articulate all of the great things that Micheal ( whom I know for more then fifty years ) has done and said in the utter positive over the years – I would be on my iPod for the day – I merely articulated one instance of the many great hearted deeds that he did in a most interesting and varied career from a teacher , to broadcaster to brilliant speaker and orator , as well as being the voice of Irish radio all around the globe!

Perhaps you personal acquaintance with him his clouding your judgement. I have no doubt he is a good man, a pillar of the community, a decent family man and a great friend. There are many many out there would fit into that category that can also speak Irish, be knowledgeable people but would not be suited for the role of president. I’m sure a day on your iPod wouldn’t even cover it, nor would a manuscript.

Your a big fan of his, no doubt, but he is not a suitable candidate for president. He is suitable for other stuff I am sure, but this isn’t a job for a man of his stature and age. There are other candidates more fitting for the role.

Who are these other suitable candidates you speak of?

Welcome Back, John, I missed ya! :)

I suppose you could say that a ‘credible candidate’ is subject to personal opinion. But its say to say, at least going by a Red C poll, that the popular candidates are/would have been;

Norris (sadly he became heavily tainted, so had to walk)
Gaybo (not suited for the roll either, but more suited)
Higgins
Mitchell

The others are not that popular, and in my personal opinion, the above candidates are as credible as we have at the moment. Pat Cox wasn’t a bad idea either, but never got the nomination from Fine Gael.

Your reasoning Joanne please ?

Where is the dignity in having a President from Kerry? This is all too ridiculous.

At last the chance of a real man becoming president. None of this Norris nonsense here!

Patrick, what is wrong with a president from Kerry?

So Darren, who you voting for so? I’d be very interested to know.

@ Eddie – I’m just looking at it from the point of view of the very big shoes the new President will have to fill after the rather good work done my Mary McAleese. I honestly feel it should be someone from a diplomatic background, someone who can manage our image at home and abroad. That’s all.

Don’t forget to write to us Darren, your inspiring words will be missed.

You insinuating the job should be taken by a dub?

Not necessarily, but better a Dub than a dud! Seriously though, there has to be somebody in the country who is qualified and would do justice to the position.

I really could not agree more with that view.

I agree 100%. Well said

So John will only comment on my points when someone refutes them? Shame.

Colin; In regards to your points in order;

1) Your forgetting I am not the person with the final say. I was expressing an opinion on this one candidate. I never said in this topic that I supported older candidates in the past, and I still don’t. I think candidates should be allowed run when younger in fact, but not when they are in their 80s (just a personal view). One term or two, that’s their choice and I don’t mind. Some presidents are astounding and should keep going, like our current one but I suppose a change is nice. Others are so atrocious that we should be given the option to boot them out. 7 years is far too long anyway. But in regards to age, I think running for president at 81 years (he will be 81 in a few days) and having to stick out 7 years bringing him to 88… Not sure having someone of that age as our president is a good idea.

2) He said it himself in an interview recently about this. He has no political background, or other political role that I can recall/know off. He started doing radio from an early enough period in his life (late 1940s?). I suppose back then not every person had the opportunity to be involved in politics and he was roped into GAA from such a young age that only recently he has time to look for something else to do in retirement. He wouldn’t , clearly, have considered such a task only for the few people that approached him. And seeing as that we are looking for Irish Celebs to run, sure why wouldn’t he think about it?

3) Ah but Sean Gallagher has political ties, he just is quiet about it as they are Fianna Fail. While we may not recall him as he was a background figure, he has the experience and knowledge to at least be a credible candidate (in terms of what such a role should require that is, rather than my personal view). Mary McAleese wasn’t just some figure we knew from TV, she had a lot of fingers in pies you could say. If I recall, she had an education in accountancy, was vocal and associated with being vocal at least on the IRA, she was part of some group/advised on law reform for Homosexuals, she is connected with Fianna Fail and always has been (ran as a TD, never got it), worked in RTE funnily enough etc. Michael is known as a GAA commentator, a damn good one, a very very nice bloke who is seen as a pillar to his community and a good person to have on your side. Not what I forsee as a candidate.

4) I thought re: advisors before I commented alright. But as I said in my comment earlier, going in “empty handed” as such and completely debriefed and really having little clue whats going on means that his advisers really need to work on him. Sure they probably can, but its not easy educating someone in politics while in the role as a president. Should be done before, and then run when you are prepared. Its just tougher and higher prone to mistake or error, as you cant teach him everything.

5) Still, not strong enough to put him as the top pillar of Ireland. I’m sure other candidates can speak Irish, and to be honest even if they don’t – forgive me, but do many care? Nobody speaks it. He wont be speaking it much in his role. Not even our TDs/Ministers speak it.

I am looking far beyond the cover and into the many pages of this wonderful character. But I fail to see anything that convinces me that he is worth considering as a candidate. :)

Sorry Kevin, I just don’t seem to have the same amount of free time as you do. Will try harder for you in future.

I wonder who the most annoying woman in Ireland is?

I’d say Sheila Chic, John.

If Lisa ever moves into public life rather than hiding behind her computer screen then she has my vote for most annoying!

Hello, Kettle? Emma says you’re black.

Some of our greatest Presidents have been elected at that age. Dubhglas de hÍde at 78 and Eamonn de Valera at 84. He’s in better shape than any 80 year old I know in body and in mind

Emma, I am the only person in Europe with this name so I am hardly hiding behind any computer screen. And I would be more than willing to meet you in person to discuss your hate filled and disgusting views. In fact I would love it!!

Fair enough Aodhan, but Devalera was deaf and almost blind when he took up the office and then died in the middle of his tenure. So you know kind of backs up my point that he is too old.

Eh no he didn’t- he died when he was 92 and finished as President at 90?

And mine

Says the man without the picture.

ooh, did i touch a gaa nerve :D

MARY DAVIS is a highly qualified candidate, competely honest, totally non-political and an example to all Irish people – check her out and see for yourself!!

Thank you Kenneth, that’s one.

:)