Presidential campaign is yet to light up

Well, we can see now how the presidential election is shaping up. Fine Gael’s nominee, Heather Humphreys, is the front-runner at the moment. There has been a bit of idiotic commentary about her Orange Order background, no doubt coming from those with a right-leaning perspective who can’t see that Ireland has changed and could not care less about Heather’s family connections. Given that she and her family are Presbyterians, it would be a denial of their beliefs if they did not uphold their traditional support for the Orange Order. It would not occur to her critics that a Protestant in the Áras, following in the footsteps of Douglás de hÍde, might be in the best position to soothe the stormy water of those recalcitrant Unionists who have to be persuaded in the (unlikely, in the near future) event of a united Ireland. Heather will not be able to persuade them but she will be in the position to talk to them.

Micheál unveiled his trump card in Jim Gavin and I must admit to having been underwhelmed by Jim’s initial reactions to being put in the spotlight. He was anything but sure-footed and it did not help that Micheál deemed it necessary to come to his rescue on a couple of occasions. Jim’s campaign has been launched and it is up to him now to explain himself to the electorate. 

I say underwhelmed because I expected a man with his reputation as the manager of the Dublin five-in-a-row team to come out of the dressingroom with fire in his eyes, fury in his belly and a mouthful of wise words aimed at capturing and firing up the minds of his electorate. But, that might only mean that my expectation was misplaced and Jim is playing the long game and there is some time to go to get the support on side. One of his first moves should be to show the red card to Micheál. Anyone who aspires to be President should be able to stand on his/her own two feet.

Sinn Féin finally decided that their best option was not to field a candidate. They had little choice. They realised that not even Mary Lou would be assured of victory and given recent poor electoral performances they could not, without their captain becoming a casualty, afford another defeat. In backing Catherine Connolly they have secured a game changer of sorts. Not one that does them much credit.

Catherine Connolly by coming first into the field stole a march on all political opponents and certainly left Sinn Féin with a huge quandary to sort out. Sinn Féin would have liked to be the candidate of the United Left, but Connolly’s move and securing the Social Democrats, People Before Profit and a somewhat reluctant Labour Party to her cause left Sinn Féin floundering. A lurch to the Left has been forced on Sinn Féin and that could end up to the benefit of their electoral prospects in the next general election. 

Many of the Sinn Féin supporters are not naturally inclined towards socialist policies and are happier in the centre or even right-of-centre but they are now forced to a unity of sorts with left-leaning politics. They have a lot of work to do between now and the general election but at least the way forward is set for them. They will lose some of their deputies who feel the lurch to the left is a step too far but that’s a price worth paying if that’s necessary to get into government.

My regular reader will recall that I threw my hat into the ring at a time when there was only Catharine and myself offering. There were quite a few publicity seekers who were “considering” a run for the Park at the time but they and the influencers realised that running for the Park was not going to be a dawdle and that influencers were not people of substance who could successfully contend.

It is a pity that Michael McDowell found himself unable or unwilling to come down off his high horse and support Maria Steen. I could not find it in my heart to vote for Ms Steen, but it would have been good for society if she was given the opportunity to present her case. It does seem that part of McDowell’s reason for rejecting Ms Steen was a fear that she might win. Now, I can’t say that I find that a good or logical explanation but sure Michael is his own man and nothing anyone could say is likely to change the mind of a man who knows everything.

The Presidential campaign has failed to light up. Perhaps the media might decide to get serious rather than trying to make an issue of Heather Humphreys' religion, or Catharine Connolly’s trips abroad and her hiring a rehabilitated convict or Jim Gavin’s use of drone footage to promote his campaign. These are Mickey Mouse issues. It is time they took to trying to find out what each candidate stands for, and letting the electorate then decide which candidate they would like to vote for.

It is good to note that following my lead of foregoing the Presidential stipend, the three candidates have announced that they too would get by without their pensions. It is not an insignificant gesture and yet it seems to have bypassed the media. Perhaps, the media are just looking for mishaps rather than seeking to present the candidates as worthy of a vote. It would appear that we will have a low turnout on polling day (perhaps as low as 20% of the electorate) if that turns out to be the case then maybe it will turn the spotlight on a media that is just plain lazy.

I, of course, had to withdraw from the race because of an issue with a troublesome gall bladder. I’m happy to say and, no doubt you, dear reader, will be pleased to know that the malefactor has been dealt with. It’s a small world and it’s strange how things can happen. The operating theatre in Mayo University Hospital is a busy bustling place with all kinds of capes and gowns looming over the table to see the latest patient up for operation.

I was just trying to settle down when this capped head appeared and announced he was Dr Aidan O’Shea and he was going to anaesthetise me. Not unnaturally I asked was he any relation to the footballer of the same name. It turned out he was not, but he was aware of who I was and I had soldiered on the hurling fields of Ireland with his father Eugene O’Shea, the tax inspector and hurling fanatic. Strange as it might seem, and I say this quite genuinely, I was immediately at ease. I knew I was in good hands.

It would be nice to say that, as I drifted off, I was transported back in time to Fraher Park in Dungarvan to the scene of one of Mayo hurling’s finest every victories when Dave Sinnott, Johnny Cunnane, Vincent Henry, Vincent Conlon and the sublime Joe Henry among others combined to beat Waterford. But no. I went into a black hole while Mr Khan and his team worked their magic and next I knew I was back in my ward.