The Terrorist, The Popstar And The Man Who Called The Pope Evil
Declan Harvey explains why the Irish presidential election will be better than any reality TV show.
29 Sep 2011, 11:45
David Norris: Topping all the polls
If you’re thinking “Why should I care? The Irish presidency has no relevance to the UK” well, you’re probably right. It doesn’t. But this race to the top job in Irish politics has an entertainment value that Strictly, X Factor and I’m a Celebrity could only dream of re-producing. I suggest you keep one eye on events across the Irish Sea purely for the sport.
Let’s bring in the competitors… In the Green corner confessed former IRA terrorist Martin McGuiness. Although now a ‘reformed character’ and deputy leader of the Northern Irish Assembly McGuiness still has a few gaps in his biography. He refuses to elaborate (or come clean) about his role as a commander of the IRA during the troubles.
His Sinn Fein supporters will always make the journey to the ballot box, but I suspect the mood of Ireland in 2011 isn’t represented by his staunch republicanism – this is a country after all that had Her Majesty to tea not so long ago. He’s third in the polls at the moment and although I wouldn’t write him off, I don’t think he should be packing up for a move to Dublin just yet.
In the pink corner: it’s our old friend, the seemingly scandal proof David Norris. I’ve already dedicated many blogging inches to this veteran gay and human rights campaigner. Despite having dropped out of the race amid revelations he’d attempted to secure clemency for his former partner convicted of statutory rape, it seems Norris is too popular to hold down. Successive polls put him well head of other candidates and so he almost had no option but appease the masses and throw his hat back in the ring. In an interview on Wednesday he said “I’m going to be the next president of Ireland”. A man of his academic track record is not being over-confident.
What’s makes the first two contestants so well matched is that during The Troubles David Norris was a vocal critic of the paramilitary campaigns waged by McGuinness & Co.
Who’ve we got next? Well in the whiter-than-white corner it’s Dana Rosemary Scallon. The “All Kinds of Everything” Eurovision winner of 1970 has experience as an MEP but it’s her catholic conservatism which I enjoy. She wants to lead Ireland back from the brink of liberalism. Excellent! Let’s also put her sitting beside Mr Norris – he after all called the pope “inherently evil”.
Standing proudly in the red corner let’s welcome Michael D Higgins. He’s already a president… well of the Irish Labour Party that is. A veteran politician, he was a critic of Ronald Reagan’s foreign policy in the eighties and is a keen poet and scholar. I’ve always thought he has a bit of a leprechaun-look about him but there’s no doubt he’s a good man and a strong contender. With his place as a candidate secure he urged his excess followers to back David Norris. Wise move or fatal mistake?
Here’s Mary Davis, she made her name in the third sector. She would be the third President Mary in a row (think Robinson and McAleese). Her political clout lies in her work with disabled children and adults. A highlight was being the CEO of the 2003 international Special Olympics when they were hosted in Ireland. As a result I’m not sure what colour to make her corner. Sorry.
Most certainly shining like a blue beacon is Gay Mitchell. Who? Gay Mitchell. No, I heard you I just don’t know who he is! He’s a former TD, MEP and a member of the ruling Fine Gael party. He’s author of “By Dáil Account, the first book published in Ireland on the history and role of the Public Accounts Committee and the office of Comptroller and Auditor General”- a real hoot at a dinner party then.
Finally in the grey independent corner is Séan Gallagher. He’s a former Dragon on Ireland’s Dragon’s Den… I kid you not. He was third favourite behind Norris and Higgins until McGuiness arrived. He’ll not embarrass himself by taking part but is no real threat. And aged 49 he can have another go in the future.
When you compare that line up to the Boris-vs-Ken-vs-Paddick re-run which we are facing for the London mayoralty next year, the city hall race seems positively dull. Funny, because that’s exactly what the Irish Presidential election has historically been, but not now. Expect three TV debates amid a hive of electioneering before the polls open on 27th October. Someone pass the popcorn.
Comments (1)
Subscribe to this posts's comments feed
One other feature is that the election will be held using the much maligned (in the UK)AV, which means that the winner has to exceed 50% of the votes, which will almost certainly put the kibosh on McGuinness.
Ironically, if Ireland used the UK's first past the post system Sinn Fein would have a serious chance of winning.
Amazingly, it means that voters will have to be able to count up to seven. Outrageous.
29/09/2011 15:50