Sir, – I am excira and delira to hear that Gay Byrne is considering running – or even standing – for the presidency as an Independent candidate. No better man. Sadly for many, Fianna Fáil's cute mano mortamove of trying to turn Gay into the party's candidate without actually selecting him, or supporting his campaign financially, may be a stroke too far and may mean it has banjaxed him before he starts. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Gay Byrne may rest assured that he is not a Fianna Fáil candidate in the forthcoming election and as a member of Fianna Fáil I would feel no obligation whatsoever to vote for him. I have nothing personal against him but would prefer he stick to broadcasting. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Is this the same Gay Byrne who said, “The country is banjaxed” on his radio show a couple of decades ago? There now seems to be a presidential candidate for everyone in the media! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – So now, Ireland, in its desperation, and in its inability to embrace change and leave the past behind, is turning to a retired entertainer from another era, who does not stand for anything (or if he does, then I and many others are not aware of it) to fill the President’s shoes. How pathetic! But, no doubt, huge numbers of people will unthinkingly jump on this particular band-wagon – and then spend the next seven years wondering why they did that.
It’s true that people get the governance they deserve. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Does the prospect of Gay Byrne becoming the next president of this country set a possible precedent whereby future candidates will be expected to qualify through the process of open audition, and with the proviso that they are fully paid up members of Irish Actors Equity? If that is to be the case, then perhaps on election they may be sworn in under the lesser title of “Acting President”. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Should Micheál Martin choose to seek some perverse public vindication for the Soldiers of Destiny by nominating Gay Byrne as a candidate for president this would represent opportunism at its worst. The Soldiers chose not to previously nominate a candidate lest that individual be given a drubbing by the electorate.
To quote Samuel Goldwyn, include me out — the presidential race has become nothing short of farce. – Is mise,
Sir, – I find it hard to take seriously some of the characters who are being put forward in the media in The racefor the Park.
It reminds me of my childhood, when my mother used to take me to the cinema. She also offered me a choice of varied characters. Laurel and Hardy, The Keystone Cops or The Three Stooges. It seems little has changed. — Yours, etc,
Sir, – The large field of proposed and hopeful candidates for the presidency is beginning to encompass an amazing array of pretentious no-hopers, has-beens, divisive figures and one elderly star, who would still be a young 84-year old at the end of his term. Surprisingly, we haven’t read to date of any political party or group nominating the most obvious candidate subject to her agreement to serve again – an experienced occupant of the post, who performed its duties with grace, distinction, international acclaim and nationwide affection – namely Mary Robinson. She would be an inspired choice and thoroughly merits an invitation to accept a second term. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Why has no one mentioned the very popular Kerryman who would have support throughout the 26 counties as a presidential candidate. . . Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh? He has a knowledge and love of all aspects of Irish culture, he is a great communicator, a people person and has a wonderful enthusiasm for life. These are surely the characteristics required for the presidency at this time. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The distinguished former president and founding member of Limerick University, Dr Edward M Walsh has been honoured by many universities both here and abroad for his many achievements. He would, in my opinion, be an excellent candidate (if willing) for the presidency of Ireland. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The Irish people seem most determined to elect a strong- willed Independent candidate for the presidency. However, this presidential race appears to turning into nothing more than a most popular celebrity competition; what with the speculation over Gaybo and Dana. Who’s next? Michael Flatley and Bono, or will it be Louis Walsh and Bob Geldof? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – In the absence of serious contenders for the presidency, may I propose a superbly qualified candidate: Name: Liz Windsor. Qualifications: Has successfully done the job on neighbouring island for 62 years. Descended from Brian Bórú. Has the authority to unite Ireland by her signature. Offers middle way between Catholic and Presbyterian churches. Motivated to see Ireland flourish to avoid default on her banks’ loans of €100 billion. All problems solved! – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Once again I find your Letters page filled with nonsense about Senator Norris’s support for a so-called “child rapist”. The facts of the case are that the man in question was convicted not of rape of a child but of a consensual sexual encounter with a 15-year- old adolescent.
Can I expect all those crying, “child rape”, to organise campaigns against our European neighbours in France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal and Spain, all of which have ages of consent of 15 or younger? In the view of so many of your correspondents all these countries have legalised “child rape”, with Spain being a particularly extreme example with an age of consent of just 13 years of age.
Why has there been no outcry to date? The absence of any such campaign suggests that rather than having any genuine interest in protecting child victims, your correspondents are simply bigots using this incident to smear a man whose only crime is to be gay and to have, in their view, the temerity to run for the presidential office. – Yours, etc,