PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES:PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Seán Gallagher has not ruled out a career in politics if he is unsuccessful in securing the presidency.
Speaking after casting his vote in his home village of Blackrock, Co Louth yesterday morning, the businessman also said he “never” had second thoughts about his decision to stand as a candidate.
He said he believed there was a desire among the electorate for “a new type of politics, away from the tit-for-tat politics and something positive and encouraging and that’s where I remain”.
When it was put to him that he had had a tough 72 hours in the campaign, he said: “This is what unfortunately the campaign ended up being about in the last couple of days.
“We have always, and the entire team throughout the country have always maintained a sense of dignity and decorum throughout this campaign because that’s what the role demands and I think that’s what the good people of Ireland deserve.”
Asked if he had ever had second thoughts about standing, he said, “Never, never, that’s the challenge of stepping forward to stand for election, you must go forward with your conviction.”
He had not ruled out a future in politics if he was not successful in being elected president, he said.
“I’m going to take it one step at a time. I think we have plenty to focus on in the next 48 hours and I think one campaign at a time is enough to fight.”
Michael D Higgins struggled to find a place to park his car when he arrived to cast his vote yesterday morning – but he might not have to deal with such issues for the next seven years if all goes according to plan today.
His wife Sabina and sons Michael and Daniel accompanied him as he made the short journey on Circular Road on the west of Galway to Bushypark National School shortly after 9.30am.
Galway’s chronic traffic woes prevented his other two children, Alice Mary and John, from joining him as he cast his vote.
Mr Higgins said he was confident as he entered the polling booth and was encouraged by the support he had received, particularly since the weekend.
“Our campaign has ended very strongly and that’s just the way I would have wanted it,” he said.
While it had been a demanding campaign, he was looking forward to the next couple of days and was confident he would be elected, he added.
The Sinn Féin press office said presidential candidate Martin McGuinness accompanied the party’s Donegal South West TD Pearse Doherty to a polling booth in Bunbeg where the latter was casting his ballot.
As a person who is not ordinarily resident in the State, Mr McGuinness was ineligible to vote.