INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Mary Davis said she was confident she could muster the required support of at least four local authorities to secure a nomination following a series of meetings with members of Galway County Council yesterday.
Ms Davis met each of the council’s political groupings before their annual general meeting, her eighth meeting with local councillors since declaring her candidature just over two weeks ago.
“I have got huge support around the country,” she said.
“I have done a fair few rounds of the country since putting my name forward and I have written to every local authority in the country to seek support.
“It is brave for anyone to put their name forward for public office. My aim, if elected, would be to be a strong advocate for Ireland internationally and to highlight the benefits and strengths of Ireland.”
The Special Olympics chief executive said she was delighted by the cross-party support she had received so far from local representatives in Kildare, Offaly, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo, Limerick, Kerry and Galway.
Although she has no previous political affiliations, Ms Davis said that the “can do” spirit epitomised by the staging of the 2003 Special Olympics Summer Games in Dublin had helped to get her message across to the local representatives.
“It is important to make people believe that they can do things. If you don’t believe in yourself you cannot believe in a bright future,” she said.
If elected, she hoped to be a strong advocate for Ireland and to connect with the Irish diaspora.
Local authorities will not be in a position to nominate candidates until September but Ms Davis said it was important for her to get out and meet as many council members as she could at this stage.
She is on annual leave from her role with the Special Olympics and is scheduled to meet the members of Louth County Council today.