Champions and contenders

Sir, – Terrible news about Conor McGregor. Does he not want to be president? – Yours, etc,

EUGENE TANNAM,

Dublin 24.

Sir, – Is the bus entitled to a rematch? – Yours, etc,

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D FLINTER,

Headford,

Co Galway.

Sir, – If we are going to have a presidential election, could someone close to John Bowman encourage him to throw his hat into the ring? – Yours, etc,

RIONA COGGIN,

Clontarf, Dublin 3.

Sir, – Charlie Flanagan, the Minister for Justice, said that "with the greatest of respect", some of the potential candidates for a presidential election could not be taken seriously and couldn't hold a candle to the current incumbent ("Some Ã?Áras hopefuls not serious, says Flanagan", News, April 6th). I dread to think what the Minister might have said about the candidates if he hadn't been speaking with the greatest of respect. – Yours, etc,

MARY MORRISSEY,

Castletownbere,

Co Cork.

Sir, – I rarely find myself in agreement with Charlie Flanagan. But three cheers for his refreshing candour in assessing the chances of certain presidential hopefuls. – Yours, etc,

MARY O’HALLORAN,

Cork.

Sir, – Fine Gael has sometimes had an uneasy relationship with the concept of the presidency. Unable to win the office, it too often has seemed content to ignore it or belittle it. This has changed in the recent past, with the present incumbent commanding the ungrudging respect of the party. – Yours, etc,

J O’KEEFFE,

Dublin 8.

Sir, – Like Miriam, I am refusing to rule out a run for the Áras. Like Bertie, I am willing to run but I will not stand against President Higgins.

In the perhaps unlikely event that I am forced to offer myself, I sincerely hope that I will be interviewed by Miriam O'Callaghan on Prime Time and that she is not otherwise engaged . – Yours, etc,

PAT O’BRIEN,

Rathmines.

Dublin 6.