Top Irish historian on Daniel O'Connell's legacy and the day he held a monster rally in Wexford
Wexford man Dr. Kevin Whelan, Professor of Irish History at the University of Notre Dame in Dublin is one of Ireland's most renowned historians, and a graduate of FCJ Bunclody.
As a historian he says, 'I am a jack of all trades and a master of none', but has a particular interest in 1798, and teachers from O'Connell House, Daniel O'Connell's former home in Merrion Square. Who better to speak about his legacy, a week on from when the state officially marked the 250th anniversary of his birth at Derrynane House.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Who are potential candidates for Ireland's next president after McGuinness' shock withdrawal & new businessman hopeful
The country is set to head to the polls before the end of this year RACE RESET Who are potential candidates for Ireland's next president after McGuinness' shock withdrawal & new businessman hopeful THE PEOPLE of Ireland are set to head to the polls later this year to vote in the next president of the country; however, who are this year's candidates? This year's election will see Michael D Higgins say goodbye to the presidency on 11 November 2025, after a 14-year term. 6 Michael D Higgins will say goodbye to the presidency after 14 years in office Credit: Getty Images - Getty 6 Mairead McGuinness unexpectedly withdrew from the race, citing medical grounds Credit: Reuters Advertisement 6 Businessman Gareth Sheridan could become the youngest-ever presidential election candidate Credit: Nutriband Higgins was initially inaugurated as president in 2011, and then re-elected in 2018. With the beloved public figure now set to step down, talk has turned to who will take his place as head of the Irish state. Presidential elections must be held in Ireland within 60 days before the current presidential term finishes in November. Advertisement However, there are certain criteria a candidate has to meet before they can be selected by a country-wide vote. Candidates must be an Irish citizen and 35 years of age or older. They must be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas, or at least four local authorities, with former or retiring presidents allowed to nominate themselves. In cases where just one candidate is nominated, he or she will be elected without a public vote. However, that is unlikely to happen this year. Advertisement And, with the race likely to pick up speed in autumn, we have outlined some of the potential runners for the 2025 Presidential Election. FINE GAEL Former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness unexpectedly withdrew from the race yesterday, 14 August, on medical grounds. In a statement, the former Fine Gael candidate revealed that the decision was not taken lightly, and that it followed a stay in hospital last week. 'Sad to see him go' - GAA fans emotional seeing Michael D Higgins attend last men's All-Ireland final as President McGuinness had been front-runner in the election up to this point. Now, the party will have to decide how to respond to her unexpected departure. Advertisement While other Fine Gael names were previously linked to the race, many, such as MEP Sean Kelly and former Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, have since withdrawn their names. Heather Humphreys was another name that had been mentioned in relation to the presidency. For the moment it remains unclear who will come forward to replace McGuinness as the Fine Gael candidate. THE 'LEFT' CANDIDATE Independent TD Catherine Connolly launched her bid for the presidency last month. Connolly has been steadily garnering support from left-leaning parties and TDs in recent months. Advertisement The Galway West TD currently has the backing of the Social Democrats, People Before Profit, the Labour Party, and several independent TDs Last month, Connolly told RTE's Raidio na Gaeltachta that she had already received the 20 nominations from Oireachtas members needed to stand in the election. On 31 July, it was revealed that Connolly had received the formal backing of the Labour Party. In an announcement, Labour TD Ciaran Ahern said: "At this evening's meeting, it was agreed that the Party should support Catherine Connolly as the left candidate for the presidency." He added: "While there are issues where we have differed with Deputy Connolly, we are determined that the social democratic values of equality, justice and tolerance should shape the presidency over the next seven years and follow the legacy of Michael D Higgins." Advertisement Connolly notably resigned from the party after she was denied the opportunity to run alongside Michael D. Higgins for the Galway West constituency in the 2007 General Election. She has also been critical of Labour during the party's time in government, once claiming the party had "lost its soul". SINN FEIN Sinn Fein has yet to announce if it will run a presidential candidate. First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill is seen as a likely candidate; however, party leader Mary Lou McDonald has refused to rule herself out of the contest. McDonald has repeatedly said that Sinn Fein is still considering its options and that a decision will be arrived at in a few weeks. Advertisement FIANNA FAIL Fianna Fail is similarly undecided as to whether it will enter this year's election. The party, which has not run a presidential candidate since 1997, may now decide to field a candidate in the wake of McGuinness's unexpected withdrawal. Likely candidates linked to the party include former TDs Peter Power and Mary Hanafin. GARETH SHERIDAN Businessman Gareth Sheridan is the latest person to announce his plans to run for the Irish presidency. The 35-year-old south Dublin native could become the youngest ever presidential election candidate, that is, if he manages to get on the ballot. Advertisement Sheridan, who told RTE he's running to be a "representative for everyone," needs the support of four local authorities to get on the ballot paper. The Tenure native has said he already has support in Tipperary and Laois county councils and that he is confident he can achieve the other four; however, he has yet to say which councils these will be. Founder of the major health company Nutriband, Sheridan has confirmed he will step back from his role as CEO of the company to pursue the presidential bid. Sheridan's company was valued at €100million in January. RIVERDANCE The 'King of Riverdance', Michael Flatley, is intending to seek a nomination to become Ireland's next president, a court was informed last month. Advertisement The choreographer's barrister made the announcement during a High Court case he has taken in relation to works carried out at his mansion in Co Cork, the Castlehyde. Barrister Ronnie Hudson notified the court of a 'material change in circumstances' for Flatley, and said he is to move back to Ireland within the next 14 days and look to run in the presidential election this autumn. An affidavit, signed by Flatley's solicitor Maxwell Mooney, was submitted to the court stating that the Irish-American is 'to seek nominations to run for president of Ireland'. Speaking to Brendan O'Connor on RTE Radio One prior to the courtroom revelation, the world-famous dancer said that he has been approached by many people and asked about his intentions. And he said: "I've not made the decision, but I have a team of advisers that are advising me on this. I have a huge business to run." Advertisement OTHER NAMES Former Chief Medical Officer, Tony Holohan, has said he is still considering his options. With McGuinness now out of the race, Holohan may now make a bid for the Aras. Businessman Declan Ganley could also throw his hat into the race. Ganley is understood to have been actively canvassing various independent TDs and senators looking for their backing in the upcoming election. While former MMA fighter Conor McGregor has spoken out about the presidency in recent months, it is unlikely he will run given his current ineligibility to get on the ballot. Advertisement 6 Michael Flatley has yet to rule himself out of running for the presidency Credit: Getty Images - Getty 6 With McGuinness now out of the race, Tony Holohan may make a bid for the presidency Credit: PA Media
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Michael Flatley ordered to put up security costs in Cork mansion case
A judge has ordered Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley to put up money for security for costs in advance of his €30m court action over works carried out at his Cork mansion. However, if he succeeds in his presidential ambitions and takes up residence in Áras an Uachtaráin, he can go back to court to have the High Court order vacated. So said Ms Justice Eileen Roberts on Friday as she ruled that the businessman and entertainer is 'not at this time ordinarily resident in Ireland, but is rather here on a temporary and conditional basis". 'I accept that if Mr Flatley succeeds in his bid for the presidency of Ireland, then he will be required to move his ordinary residence to Ireland and that point would become ordinarily resident here,' the judge added. Ms Justice Roberts said if it transpires that Mr Flatley succeeds in his presidential ambitions and thereby becomes ordinarily resident in this jurisdiction, he can apply to the court to vacate the order for security for costs made against him on the basis that the grounds for the making of the order no longer apply. The judge said it appeared that Mr Flatley's recently stated intention to return to Ireland is not open-ended or unconditional. Presidential campaign By linking his return and the timing of it to the forthcoming presidential campaign and election, Ms Justice Roberts said she believed Mr Flatley is at best committing to returning to live in Ireland long term if he were successful in his presidential ambitions. 'There is no evidence before me that he would remain living in Ireland otherwise,' the judge stated. The High Court will later determine the amount to be paid by Mr Flatley, though the parties being sued had proposed €2.8m. At issue in the case was where was Mr Flatley 'ordinarily resident', and the star is claiming the court applications were a 'a final effort to derail his claim' and an attempt to embarrass him. In an unusual twist to the case following the conclusion of the security for costs hearing, the Flatley side had said that the entertainer was moving back to Ireland as he 'intends to seek nominations to run for President". An affidavit opened before the judge made the assertion, following on from speculation that the Irish-American would contest the upcoming presidential election. Mr Flatley's counsel, Ronnie Hudson BL instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor, said it was Mr Flatley's intention to return to live in Ireland, and counsel contended it represented a 'material change of circumstances' which must be considered. In her judgment, Ms Justice Roberts said at the time of the hearing of the case at the start of July that the uncontroverted evidence was that Mr Flatley was residing in Monaco and had specified it as his home address in court documents. The evidence, she said, is that he has been living in Monaco since at least 2014, and that he stayed in Castlehyde whenever he was in Cork. 'Material change in circumstances' On July 25, she said the court was advised of 'a material change in circumstances" in relation to Mr Flatley's residence. Because of the importance of Mr Flatley's ordinary residence to the jurisdiction of the court to make an order for security for costs, the judge said she agreed to admit Mr Flatley's affidavit on the matter. The judge said she proceeded on the basis that Mr Flatley had already or will shortly move to Ireland and seek nomination to run for President of Ireland, as was indicated in his solicitor's affidavit. 'Even on that assumption, however, there is a complete lack of detail as to what practical arrangements Mr Flatley has made to source accommodation and, most significantly, whether he has made any arrangements for him and his family to return to Ireland to live on a long-term basis,' Ms Justice Roberts said. The court, the judge said, was not provided with any information which demonstrates in a practical way that Mr Flatley would be able to satisfy the test of ordinary residence in Ireland. She noted that being ordinarily resident is an entirely different matter to being resident for a period of time. The judge will hear submission from all sides in November on the amount of security of costs which will have to be lodged in court by Mr Flatley. In the main proceedings, the Riverdance performer claims he and his family had to vacate the Castlehyde period property in October 2023 after alleged toxic chemical residue was detected during routine maintenance. Mr Flatley is suing Austin Newport Group Ltd, the main contractor, and insurance underwriters MS Amlin Underwriting Ltd, AXA XL Underwriting Agencies LTD, and Hamilton Managing Agency Limited, along with Lloyds Insurance Company. All of the allegations are denied.
Irish Examiner
4 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish exports to the US down almost 25% as tariff pressures stifle trade
Irish exports to the US dropped significantly in June as the fallout from US President Donald Trump's punitive tariff campaign stifled trade between the two countries. New figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Friday show exports to the US fell by almost a quarter compared to June 2024, dropping by €1.3bn to a total of €4.4bn. Despite the notable decline, the US remained Ireland's largest trading partner, with exports to the US accounting for just under 25% of total exports in June. The products which accounted for the largest share of US exports were chemicals and related products at €3.2bn, miscellaneous manufactured articles at €622m and machinery and transport equipment at €412m. These products represented 72.3%, 14.3% and 9.5% of total exports to the US in June. On a monthly basis, exports of goods to the US fell by almost 60%, reflecting the fallout from tariffs as well as stockpiling efforts by companies seeking to get ahead of punitive levies. Overall, the value of goods exports increased by 4.8% to €17.5bn in June 2025 compared to the same month last year, the CSO said. For the three months between April and June, exports were valued at €63.1bn, reflecting a rise of 16.5% compared with the same quarter last year. Stockpiling However, it also reflected an almost 30% fall compared to the previous quarter, which was especially high due to stockpiling efforts ahead of President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement in April. Similarly, goods exports declined by more than 26% to €17.2bn in June compared to the previous month, leading to a decrease of 56% in Ireland's seasonally adjusted trade surplus. Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products increased by 9% to €7.3bn in June compared with the same month last year, representing over 41% of total exports. Meanwhile, exports of organic chemicals decreased by almost 30% to €1.8bn compared to June 2024. The EU has not said when a joint statement on tariffs with the US would be ready, nor when the White House would issue an executive order on European car import duties. The EU and US reached a framework trade agreement at the end of July but only the 15% baseline tariff on European exports had so far come into effect, as of last week. EU officials previously said a joint statement would follow the deal "very soon" along with executive orders from US president Donald Trump on key carve-outs.
