
PJ Gallagher would run for President on one condition
The comic and presenter made the admission on his radio show on Wednesday morning, revealing what one thing could potentially change his mind.
To date, Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness and independent TD Catherine Connolly have confirmed they will launch campaigns to become the next president. We're at the time of year where everyone who is anyone is being asked on whether they'll run for Áras, and PJ Gallagher is the latest to 'rule himself out.' Pic: Instagram
With plenty of speculation as to who else could throw their hat in the ring, PJ Gallagher and his Radio Nova co-host Jim McCabe had their say on some celebrity candidates.
Jim said: 'Michael Flatley was being rumoured to be considering a run and we just thought, look, an auld celebrity candidate is never a bad thing just to keep the general interest up'
PJ added that it 'puts a bit of spice' into the campaign. With plenty of speculation as to who else could throw their hat in the ring, PJ Gallagher and his Radio Nova co-host Jim McCabe had their say on some celebrity candidates. Pic: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock
Jim went on to share that listeners to the show had text in putting Johnny Logan's name out there, before then asking PJ was he in or out.
'I am ruling myself out,' PJ confirmed, 'Both Jim and me are ruling out a dual-presidency and until there is a dual presidency.'
'And we are adamant in that,' Jim added with a laugh, 'We will not accept the presidency until it's a dual presidency and we've established what way the Áras will be split up and who gets which bits.' View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Radio Nova 100 (@radionova100)
'As long as Jim gets to do the awkward parties and I get to just hang around the house,' PJ said.
The conversation led Jim to put fellow broadcaster Pat Kenny's name forward, noting he would be a 'great President.'
'Yeah,' PJ said before launching into an impression of the former Late Late Show host. Jim said Pat was a 'very articulate' man who 'holds himself well.' Pic: G. McDonnell / VIPIRELAND.COM
Jim said Pat was a 'very articulate' man who 'holds himself well.'
PJ continued with his impression of the broadcaster, with Jim admitting Kenny for President would be 'worth it just to see the presidential addresses.'
'People of Ireland,' the pair said, exaggerating the pronunciation so to sound like Pat.
A new President will be elected later in the year as Michael D Higgins steps down from the role after 14 years at the helm.
The current favourite to take over is former MEP Mairead McGuinness, who is currently running unopposed for Fine Gael after Seán Kelly confirmed he would not be seeking a nomination from the party.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Times
36 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Change to summer holiday period would require widespread consultation, says McEntee
The summer break poses 'challenges' for parents but any changes to holidays would have to be considered following consultation with schools, teachers and families, the Minister for Education has said. Helen McEntee said the issue may come up as part of a new convention on education announced by the Government on Thursday. The Fine Gael TD said schools are 'very active' throughout the year and summer holidays 'gives everybody a chance to take a break'. Ms McEntee also pointed to 1,800 primary schools that are participating in the summer programme , which caters for pupils with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage. READ MORE 'There's a lot of things happening over the summer, whether it's school camps, different types of sports or activities ... but I do acknowledge the challenges for parents when it comes to childcare ... that in many households you have both parents now working full-time,' she told reporters in Clondalkin, west Dublin. 'So the summer does pose challenges, but I think any changes to summer breaks, any changes to holidays, that's something that would always have to be considered in engagement and consultation with schools, with teachers, with parents, with families overall.' The Minister said she would like to see the reduction in the student contribution fee for higher education maintained. Third-level fees have been reduced to €2,000 as 'once-off' cost-of-living measures for the past three years. However, Minister for Higher Education James Lawless signalled late last month that a previous €1,000 reduction to fees would no longer apply after the Government decided there will be no cost-of-living package in the 2026 budget. 'There's a very clear commitment in the programme for government that we would continue to reduce it, and as someone who was leading the negotiations from the Fine Gael point of view, that is a very strong commitment that we've made, and one that we intend to see through,' Ms McEntee said. 'Obviously, any budget discussions have yet to happen or they'll be happening now over the summer months into October, and it will be for every individual Minister to set out exactly what their plans are and what their overall budget is, but we've made very clear commitments, and it's something that we want to see continue.' Separately, the Minister said that while it is important for there to be flexibility and structure at a Government level in terms of remote working, there must be 'autonomy' within companies also. AIB has moved to require staff eligible for hybrid working to return to its branches and offices three days a week on a phased basis, introducing the tightest rules among Irish retail banks. 'Ultimately, companies do have to make decisions based on what's right for them, what's right for the way in which they are working, while at the same time trying to support and recognise and acknowledge that people have families, school, commitments [and] that they have to try to work with them to make sure that everybody benefits from it,' Ms McEntee said.


Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Cllr Willliam O'Leary elected new chairperson of Northern Committee
Cllr O'Leary was elected the new chair of the Northern Committee following their recently monthly meeting. The Northern Committee is comprised of 15 councillors from the Kanturk/Mallow and Fermoy municipal districts. Cllr O'Leary succeeds Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle who received lavish praise from his political colleagues for his professionalism during his tenure. Cllr Frank O'Flynn paid tribute to the outgoing chair. 'The meetings were very positive and very well organised. You were very fair and you gave everyone an opportunity.' Fine Gael councillor Tony O'Shea also thanked Cllr Ian Doyle for his contribution and professionalism throughout the year. He also wished Cllr O'Leary all the very best in the year ahead. Cllr O'Leary who is based in Rathcormac was nominated for the role of chair by Cllr Frank O'Flynn and Cllr Peter O'Donoghue. Cllr O'Flynn said Mr O'Leary is firmly 'embedded' in the local community and a man destined for greater things. 'William is a second time councillor in the area. He is a colleague of ours in the Fermoy MD. He is very well known in this area. He is very embedded in the local community and in the GAA with Bride Rovers who are synonymous with success. I think William is a man destined for greater things.' Independent councillor Peter O'Donoghue who seconded the nomination said William is a great representative for all the people in the Northern Division. 'He is widely respected by all political parties and by all Independents. He does Trojan work for the area. He is a fair and reasonable person. He would be the ideal candidate for chair of this division.' Cllr O'Leary was subsequently elected as chair for 2025-26 and he began his opening speech by thanking Cllr O'Flynn and Cllr O'Donoghue for the nomination. 'I want to congratulate the outgoing chair Ian Doyle and I want to wish him well in his year as deputy mayor. He is a very popular member of Cork County Council. 'I will keep the programme of work going,' said Cllr O'Leary. 'It is an important committee. We have our directorates coming in here and it is an opportunity to work with them. I might be a bit quieter up here than down there. I will try anyway.' Fianna Fáil councillor Nelius Cotter was elected as the new vice-chairperson of the Northern Committee. Cllr Frank O'Flynn who proposed Cllr Cotter for the role said he is very much stepped in farming organisations. 'He was a first-time candidate in the last election and he got elected in the Fermoy local electoral area. He is very much embedded in the community and especially in the farming organisations. He came up through the Fianna Fáil ranks.' Fianna Fáil councillor Ian Doyle seconded the nomination of Cllr Cotter. The new chairperson received warm and very supportive messages from all his political colleagues. Cllr Pat Hayes thanked Cllr Ian Doyle for his work over the last year before wishing Cllr O'Leary and Cllr Cotter the very best in their new roles for the coming year. Cllr Gearoid Murphy (Fianna Fáil) also offered warm congratulations to Cllr O'Leary: 'It is not an easy job. There are 15 of us in here. In terms of the population that we represent in the Northern Division, it is bigger than some county councils. Best of luck. You have great experience and I'm sure the next year will run smoothly.'


Irish Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Ryan Tubridy shares holiday snaps from family trip to Japan
Ex-RTE star Ryan Tubridy has shared a look inside his recent trip to Japan with daughters Ella and Julia. The Virgin Radio and Q102 presenter visited Osaka, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Tokyo earlier this summer, describing it as an "unforgettable" holiday. Ryan recently wrote in his Irish Mail on Sunday column: "Some time ago, I agreed with my daughters that someday in the future, the three of us would visit Japan. "We have been so curious about the country and its customs, art and people that we had built a great urge between us to go and see it for ourselves. "Between the jigs and the reels, the timings never worked but that changed a couple of weeks ago when we boarded a plane for Abu Dhabi and then on to Osaka for what turned out to be the trip of a lifetime. "I won't go into great detail as it was a wonderfully personal experience but I will tell you that it was like being beamed down from a spaceship onto the set of a Wes Anderson film. It's a uniformly beautiful, clean, mannerly, law-abiding place that can surprise you with every corner turned." Ryan, Ella and Julia visited four cities in Japan and the Dubliner said he became "obsessed" with Japan's bullet train. Ryan, Ella and Julia visited four cities in Japan (Image: Instagram: Ryan Tubridy) The former Late Late Show host said his daughters encouraged him to taste some traditional Japanese food and diversify his palette. "We went on to eat at a local restaurant where the girls encouraged me to try the chopsticks, noodles and dumplings, which I did and I'm a changed man! "Post-dinner merriment found us all in the mood to sample the local national sport that is karaoke, which was an awful lot of fun. "Between us, we improved the back catalogue of Frank Sinatra, Bonnie Tyler, Bob Dylan, The Pogues and some Japanese icons. It was that kind of evening." Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.