Seán Gallagher says he will not be entering presidential election race
Seán Gallagher
has said he will not be running to succeed
Michael D. Higgins
in Áras an Uachtaráin.
Mr Gallagher finished second in the 2011 presidential election after being regarded as the front-runner for much of the campaign.
However, during an
RTÉ
Frontline programme, the final debate of the campaign, a Twitter post wrongly claiming a man had given Mr Gallagher money for a
Fianna Fáil
fundraiser was read out by presenter
Pat Kenny
.
The businessman, a former
Dragons' Den
panellist, had ran as an Independent candidate but his opponents accused him of being a proxy for Fianna Fáil, which was in the doldrums after the EU-IMF bailout and a disastrous general election in 2011.
READ MORE
The incident, just three days before polling day, derailed Mr Gallagher's momentum. Mr Higgins received more than 700,000 votes as he won his first term as President. Mr Gallagher polled more than 500,000 first preference votes.
RTÉ later apologised to Mr Gallagher and paid him substantial damages for statements made on the programme. It acknowledged the programme 'fell significantly short of the standards expected by the public and required by law'.
Mr Gallagher would run again in 2018 but made little impression on that occasion, polling just 6.4 per cent.
He was rumoured to be considering another run at the presidency this year, and was seen in discussion with Independent TDs in Leinster House on two recent occasions.
He had previously declined to confirm or deny any intentions. However, he on Thursday told The Irish Times he does not intend to enter the race.
Fine Gael
this week nominated former European commissioner
Mairead McGuinness
as its candidate, while Independent TD
Catherine Connolly
launched her campaign on Wednesday.
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Irish Times
12 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Miriam Lord: People discarded jackets in the heat, but Princess Anne was clad in scarf and gloves
After 14 years in Áras An Uachtaráin , Michael D Higgins is well into the not-long-now phase of his presidency. Not everyone says it when they meet him, but it's what they are thinking. On Wednesday morning, as journalists gathered in the State Reception Room in advance of a courtesy call from the United Kingdom's Princess Anne , the impending arrival of a new tenant in the President of Ireland's official residence concentrated minds. Some were already feeling a bit nostalgic for the Michael D days. ' Not long to go now ,' they sighed, before joining the speculation over his successor. READ MORE His term of office ends officially in early November. And a date for the presidential election has yet to be announced, but the pre-race rumour mill is now running at full silly season tilt. Not long now. British media outlets were describing the visit as possibly Michael D's last engagement with a 'senior royal'. Princess Anne was in town to visit the Dublin Horse Show , so she took the opportunity to nip up to the Phoenix Park to pay her respects, like her mother did before her during that historic state visit in 2011. It was a very low-key affair, but statements released afterwards by the Áras and the British embassy underscored what ambassador Paul Johnston called 'the deep and enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Ireland'. Although we may be a proud Republic, the royal family across the water has long been a rich source of gossipy fascination and diverse entertainment. And of that extended Windsor clan, Princess Anne (she turns 75 in a week and a half) seems to be viewed as a generally sound, no-nonsense, hard-working member of the firm. There was a lot of media interest in her visit. She was greeted on arrival by Orla O'Hanrahan, secretary general to the President, who escorted the Princess Royal to the door of the State reception room via the Francini Corridor, where Michael D and his wife Sabina were waiting, along with a small media pack corralled down the back. Anne barrelled in, smiling, her black leather shoulder bag tucked under her oxter. Following the example of other female royals when they visit the Emerald Isle, she wore a longline linen blazer and skirt in contrasting shades of green. Michael D pointed to the gold broach on her lapel. 'That's very appropriate,' he said. It was hard to see it from the back of the room. What was it? Maybe a little bottle of stout, what with Guinness's brewery only across the river. Or perhaps a deer eating a bag of crisps, as we were in the Phoenix Park. It was a horse. No surprise there. The weather was very muggy and people were discarding jackets and fanning themselves with their press handouts. But Princess Anne wore a light scarf around her neck and a pair of navy gloves. Swear to God. Gloves! That's roy-lity for you. There was some small talk about the weather with the princess remarking that it was a little warmer than the last time they met. 'A better time of year.' The last time she was on an official visit was in April 2019 when she toured several lighthouses in Dublin Bay. According to reports, she wore 'a navy coat with matching beanie'. In March last year, she watched the Ireland vs Scotland Six Nations rugby match along with President Higgins in a chilly Aviva Stadium. Back at the Áras, Michael D invited his guest to sign the visitors' book. It's very large. The princess removed a glove and then fished a pen out of her bag. Less is more? Princess Anne's signature on the visitors' book. 'She brings her own biros!' whispered an onlooker, thrilled. It certainly was not a biro. 'I don't want to waste the whole page,' said Anne. 'You deserve a whole page,' replied the kindly Sabina, who, incidentally, wore an elegant pale blue and white lace appliqué skirt with a crisp white blouse. Michael D was in the presidential three-piece, but not the trademark tweed one because he would have melted on to the carpet in front of a senior royal and we couldn't have that in front of the neighbours. Anne signed with a flourish and took some time doing it. After she left, we had a gander. Frankly, we were somewhat disappointed. There was no message at all. Not even something like: 'You have the place gorgeous' or 'Loving your work' or 'Missing you already'. 'Anne. 6th August 2025' is all she wrote. That's roy-ilty for you. Princess Anne during her visit to the Áras. The princess put her pen back in her bag, which she tucked back under her arm and then put the other glove back on. The President, his wife and the princess posed for photographs in front of the desk. The small talk was wonderful. And while Anne didn't actually say: 'Not long now', to the soon-to-depart Higginses, she did note that Michael D has been in office 'quite a long time'. 'Fourteen years,' he said, stoically. 'But not for much longer,' added Sabina. The extensive gardens outside the French windows looked stunning. They will miss them. Beautiful floral arrangements of big, blowsy dahlias brought the summer inside. 'Do you spend all your time here?' asked Anne, who has several extremely large homes within the family to go to. 'All the time,' said Michael D. 'All the time,' said Sabina. 'It's a nice spot,' replied Anne. They retired to the President's study for an official 'tete-a-tete' before being escorted to the drawingroom, where the two entourages held a brief meeting. 'It was a pleasure to renew my conversations with Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, and to recognise the significant contribution which she has made over so many years to the relationship between our two countries,' said the President afterwards. 'I was also pleased to recognise the contribution which The Princess Royal has made to equestrian sports over the years, as well as to related learning and therapy services. I further took the opportunity to extend my best wishes to His Majesty King Charles and to recall his unwavering support for peace and reconciliation.' There was no sign of Misneach, the President's dog, but as the 50-minute meeting inside the Áras continued, a very friendly black and white cat pootled across the courtyard before sidling in the front door and sashaying off in the direction of the Council of State Room. President Michael D Higgins poses for a photograph with the Princess Royal before she left Áras an Uachtaráin for the Dublin Horse Show. Photograph Nick Bradshaw Minutes later, a shout emerged from beneath the portico: 'How did you let this intruder in?' The large number of plain-clothes officers waiting outside looked up to see a senior detective assigned to the President striding forward with the housebreaking moggie in her arms. There is a definite feeling of things winding down in this particular presidency, although Micheal D is still packing in the public appearances. He will be at the All-Ireland camogie final at the weekend, marking his final appearance in Croke Park as President. The VIP guest was waved off by Michael D and Sabina. There was no pomp and ceremony. Anne walked briskly to her Range Rover and was whisked off to Ballsbridge and the Horse Show, where, among other things, she presented rosettes to the winners in Class 20 of the Small Hunters competition. As for Michael D, 14 years and not long to go now. It's a lifetime job for Princess Anne. She must be jealous. But that's roy-lity for you.
Irish Times
42 minutes ago
- Irish Times
No Irish leader exerted as much global influence as Daniel O'Connell, commemoration hears
No Irish leader has exerted as much international influence as Daniel O'Connell with his Catholic emancipation campaign resulting in him being hailed a hero by all who believe in liberty, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said. Mr Martin said that the success of 'the Liberator' in campaigning for Catholic emancipation in 1829 led to people all over the world looking to Ireland for inspiration about how to bring together oppressed people to achieve dramatic breakthroughs. The Taoiseach was speaking at a State commemoration at O'Connell's ancestral home in Caherdaniel, Co Kerry, to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. He said aside from being 'an inspiration to many Catholic communities who faced discrimination and repression around the world, he was also an icon for others, in particular Europe's Jewish community'. 'And of course he was a leader and a symbol of hope for those who were campaigning for the abolition of slavery wherever it was to be found,' said Mr Martin. He added that O'Connell and Ireland's story was followed closely by newspapers and journals worldwide. READ MORE Mr Martin said it would be wrong to think O'Connell cared only about Catholic emancipation as his focus was on oppression generally. ' He believed that members of all religions and in all countries should have the right to fully participate in the professional and political life of the state. 'He was not looking for supremacy, but for equality and respect. And to achieve it he built an organisation the like of which the world had never before seen. There had been many popular risings in world history, but there was no example of a mass democratic political movement before.' He said O'Connell brought all the fire and determination that had characterised his legal work to the cause of Catholic emancipation, and, as he grew older, he became much more personally and deeply committed to his faith. Taoiseach Micheál Martin officiated at the commemoration marking the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O'Connell. Photograph: Maurice Gunning Mr Martin said O'Connell does not simply represent a distant part of Irish history but his tireless campaigning seeking to unite the Irish people behind the shared values of solidarity and justice means he remains an inspiring beacon for Irish people today. The event, at the OPW-managed Derrynane House, was attended by 200 invited guests, including Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan, who also spoke of O'Connell's continuing relevance in the modern world. 'The world can be a turbulent place, and it can appear to be worsening. Daily we see breaches in civil rights, famine and wars. We can draw strength from our past. We can remember what we have already overcome, we can look to the example of O'Connell. [ Daniel O'Connell would have enjoyed his life being celebrated 250 years on, says historian Opens in new window ] 'And when we do, we can see what one man was capable of achieving through peaceful means, and how his success motivated so many others in the global pursuit of civil rights and democratic reform,' said Mr O'Donovan. Among the guests, which included many public representatives, were more than 20 of O'Connell's descendants including his great-great-great granddaughter, Emily Lenehan, who delivered a reflection on her illustrious ancestor on behalf of the O'Connell family. The ceremony concluded with Mr Martin unveiling a commemorative plaque to O'Connell carved from Valentia slate and the planting of an oak tree, for which he was joined by two of O'Connell's youngest descendants, Finlay (12) and Charlotte Davidson (six). [ TV aerial in Daniel O'Connell stamp is a 'visual signal' to the modern age, not AI, says An Post Opens in new window ]
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on racist attacks: no place for hate on our streets
In recent weeks there has been a disturbing uptick in reports of violent attacks targeting ethnic minorities, particularly affecting members of Ireland's Indian community. Members of that community have spoken of rising verbal abuse and assaults on Irish streets, leading them to feel unsafe. Many such incidents remain unreported to the Garda Síochána, though details have surfaced on local WhatsApp groups. The situation has left many people feeling increasingly vulnerable as they go about their daily lives in what was once seen as a welcoming environment. And last weekend the Indian embassy warned its citizens to take extra precautions for their own security. Indians have become Ireland's fastest-growing immigrant group, with thousands receiving residence permits in the past three years alone. In a relatively short period, the community has grown to become the largest non-white ethnic group in the country, contributing significantly to various sectors of the economy. Particularly notable is the valuable contribution of Indian professionals to the health service and technology industries, where their expertise is in high demand. But many now report feeling a sense of threat. The Garda has responded to the reports of violence with statements emphasising its commitment to addressing the problem. But some victims, especially those who have lived in Ireland for many years, believe that things are getting worse. They point to an increase in hostile, racially charged encounters on the streets, fuelled in part by poisonous rhetoric on social media. All of this forms part of a broader, worrying trend that has seen public spaces and public discourse become sites of escalating toxicity. READ MORE Reports suggest that many perpetrators are minors, complicating the issue of legal accountability. While recently passed hate crime legislation now makes it possible to treat racial animus as an aggravating factor when sentencing, the effectiveness of this as a deterrent remains to be seen. The debate on regulating hate speech remains contentious, as evidenced by last year's controversy over proposed legislation on the issue, which was ultimately abandoned. But alongside legislation and enforcement, civil society and individual citizens also have a role to play in rejecting those who carry out these reprehensible acts. It is concerning that in some cases, bystanders have witnessed assaults but failed to intervene or report them. However, there have also been instances where members of the public have come to the aid of victims and brought the assaults to public attention. Such solidarity sends an unequivocal signal that racist violence is unacceptable. It is everybody's shared responsibility to ensure that no one feels unsafe because of their ethnicity or the colour of their skin.
