Taking the reins of a traditional jaunting car and whip in hand, presidential hopeful Heather Humphreys said she was relishing the demands of the campaign.
“I love meeting people. I love every day of meeting people,” she said at the jarvey stand in Killarney.
Fine Gael party stalwarts turned out. The party lost its seat in the last general election and failed to gain a seat in the local elections in Co Kerry tourist town, once a party stronghold.
Fine Gael senator Mike Kennelly and his daughter Councillor Aoife Kennelly, along with former TD Brendan Griffin and former Kenmare councillor Patrick Connor-Scarteen sported “I’m backing Heather” badges.
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Also there was hotelier and TV personality John Brennan of Kenmare.
Presented with a bunch of Kerry mountain heather by 16-month-old Blaithin Connor-Scarteen, Ms Humphreys took to the jaunting car.
In an interview with Radio Kerry earlier, she set out her stall. Hers would be strong community focus.
As president she believed she could be a unifying voice in a divisive world and would follow in the steps of Mary McAleese, “a proud Ulster woman” like herself. She also urged people to joining their tidy towns association as a great way of integrating people as she met the local organisation.
To respect and protect the Constitution is the first duty of a president and the job of the president was to protect the Constitution, she said. “But that does not stop me from speaking out from where I see injustice.”
In that, she would take a leaf out of Michael D Higgins’s book and speak out where she saw the need.
The president’s role was an important one, including on trade missions and as a forum for listening. She wanted to establish a council of youth that would exist alongside the Council of State, she told Radio Kerry.
She was asked her view on Catherine Connolly’s comment that Germany’s rearmament had “some parallels” with the 1930s.
“I don’t agree with that,” Ms Humphreys said, adding this was a different world to the 1930s. “Europe has to defend itself,” she said.
There had been peace for 50 years and Russia’s president Vladimir Putin could stop the war.
On Irish unity, Ms Humphreys said she wanted a united Ireland based on the Belfast Agreement and would “work day and night” to make that happen.
Also in The Kingdom was Jim Gavin. He may have crossed swords with the county numerous times as a player and as a manager, but it was all smiles on Friday.
Some of the Kerry greats of football such as Mikey Sheehy, Ogie Moran, Darragh Ó Sé and Marc Ó Sé turned up to welcome him to the Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco and Activity Park.
Also present was the Sam Maguire with whom Mr Gavin once had an enduring and seemingly neverending relationship as he guided the Dubs to six All-Ireland wins.
But the boot was on the other foot in Tralee on Friday, and Mr Gavin was quick to pay tribute to the current Kerry side and their manager, Jack O’Connor, after the Iveragh man steered the Kingdom to a comprehensive victory over Donegal this summer.
“I just want to congratulate Kerry on your success – to be national league, provincial champions and All-Ireland champions [is] a phenomenal, phenomenal year and I was lucky as well like Jack, he’s got great players, and you’ve got a fantastic coach and manager in Jack, and I do wish you the very best,” he said.
Mr Gavin proved himself assured when it came to fielding questions from the media about a variety of subjects including the abuse of women in the Defence Forces and derogatory claims that posted about him on social media including X.
About the latter, he said: ”That was a very upsetting event, you know, for the family, for my wife, for my children, indeed, for my friends, and you know I need to stand up for them and for my friends, but you know it is a wider societal problem, online abuse, lies, misinformation, you know, can’t be tolerated,“ he said.
“In terms of the legalities, you know, we sent legal letters to the [social media] companies, and TikTok and Meta have taken it down. I’m interested to see what the other companies will do, and I have also engaged with Coimisiún na Meán, which is the Media Commission.
“They have been given new powers in recent times to deal with lies, misinformation and abuse on social media so I expect action will be taken.”
He said he would wait to see what happens with the remaining social media companies before taking any further legal action.
“But it’s not about me, it’s about the wider societal impact and, you know, this has in some ways been normalised I think and we need to call it what it is. This can’t happen. And we need to, you know, from the Media Commission perspective, they need to take a more active role.”
Ms Connolly was at the other end of the country in Donegal.
She started her visit in Donegal town where she received a warm welcome, taking time to chat to people on the street and enjoyed a weaving demonstration.
She was joined by former independent TD and fellow neutrality campaigner Thomas Pringle and independent councillor Jimmy Brogan. There was also a great show of support from Sinn Féin’s representatives in Donegal, with TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig Mac Lochlainn joining councillors Noel Jordan and Jack Murray.
With three candidates in the race for the Áras, Ms Connolly believes her early start is standing her well.
“I began campaigning in July and I have made myself available to meet people and answer questions at every opportunity,” she said.
Ms Connolly outlined the main themes of her campaign.
“I want to see us using our neutrality in the most positive way,” she said.
“And I want to be a voice that articulates the threat posed by climate change.
“Communities are vital, and I want to be a voice for communities here in Donegal and all across Ireland.
“The Irish language is very important to me too. I had school Irish and I went back and learned it again. My aim is to empower and inspire others to do the same.
“It gives you a súil eile, a different perspective on the world.”
Ms Connolly continued with her Donegal visit, stopping off in Killybegs, Ardara and Dungloe.
