Latest news with #CatherineConnolly
Irish Times
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘Somebody has to speak for the Irish people': Michael Flatley ‘seriously' considering presidential bid
Michael Flatley is not ruling himself out of seeking a nomination to run for president of Ireland , he told Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday. The former dancer, famous for creating and choreographing the Riverdance and Lord of the Dance shows, said he believes the Irish people do not have a voice at present. He suggested he may run 'if I thought that I could be of benefit to the Irish people and maybe more importantly, if I thought I could be a voice of the Irish people'. 'I'm very blessed in that… I meet the average person on the street from [ages] five to 95,' Mr Flatley said. 'I meet them all and I hear their concerns. And I'd be lying if I said they're happy right now, and somebody has to speak for the Irish people.' So far, two candidates have been confirmed for the presidential race. Independent TD Catherine Connolly announced her bid after receiving the backing of 20 Oireachtas members, while former European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has been nominated by Fine Gael. READ MORE [ Who is Mairead McGuinness, the early front-runner in the presidential race? Opens in new window ] Ms McGuinness leads the field in a list of potential candidates, according to the latest Irish Times/Ipsos B&A opinion poll, though the results show nobody has yet caught the public imagination. While he has not yet made a final decision, nor has he been approached by a political party, Mr Flatley said he has had contact with 'some very weighted individuals, people in the know'. Citing his encounters with world leaders like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, the Obamas and the Clintons, Mr Flatley suggested the job of the president might be to promote the country on a cultural front. [ Who is Catherine Connolly? The outspoken left-wing campaigner running for president Opens in new window ] 'I'm not sure we need another politician if I'm honest,' he said. 'I know it's a statesman's role, but I spent the last 30 years of my life touring the world, promoting Ireland and Irish culture. I've met them all.' Mr Flatley was reluctant to declare any outright intention to run, but confirmed he is 'taking it seriously' and has constructed a team of advisers. He said he has a large business to run with 'an army of dancers counting on me to make a living,. I have a whiskey company, a beautiful young wife and son that I want to spend time with'. [ Michael Flatley refused access to documents in row over legal fees and receiver costs Opens in new window ] 'It's certainly not something that I've made any decision on, but it does get frustrating when you see the hard-working Irish taxpayer working as hard out and having no say in things,' he added. When pressed, he concluded by saying, 'let it be said that I stand for Ireland and the Irish people – sin é'. It remains to be seen whether Mr Flatley would secure a nomination should he seek one.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Catherine Connolly backed Gemma O'Doherty in 2018 presidential bid, despite public criticism of HPV vaccine
Presidential hopeful Catherine Connolly endorsed former journalist Gemma O'Doherty in the 2018 presidential election, after Ms O'Doherty had publicly voiced her anti-HPV vaccine opinions. On Wednesday, Ms Connolly stood outside the gates of Leinster House, surrounded by supporters from the Social Democrats, as well as Independent TDs and senators, and launched her presidential campaign.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: It's time for Israel to listen to their own Holocaust scholars on what constitutes genocide
As a rebuke, the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, calls on Ireland to apologise to Israel, writing online: 'Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to an act of diplomatic intoxication?' Significantly, Huckabee has also stated that 'there is no such thing as a Palestinian'. In contrast to these political responses, prominent Israeli Holocaust and genocide scholars Amos Goldberg, Omer Bartov, Daniel Blatman, Raz Segal and Shmuel Lederman have all concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. According to Dr Goldberg: 'Other genocide experts who have reached this determination include Martin Shaw, author of the book What is Genocide?; Melanie O'Brien, president of the International Association of Genocide Scholars; and Dirk Moses, senior editor of the Journal of Genocide Research.' When nations ignore the clear assessments of these scholars, they abandon both moral responsibility and international law. The cost of this silence is measured in human lives. Terry Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dark times when a US ambassador is so bereft of tact on a nation's affairs The diplomatic service of the US was once renowned and admired globally, mainly staffed by professional, patriotic men and women with enormous pride in representing their nation internationally. Alas, the imbecilic statement by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee ('Taoiseach hits back after US ambassador to Israel says Irish have 'fallen into a vat of Guinness' over Occupied Territories Bill', Irish Independent, July 17) shows clearly how absolutely bereft of tact he is. His remarks on Irish legislation might suggest he is not a fit person to serve in any capacity representing the US. As the late theologian Professor Barbara Holmes wrote: 'There are many types of darkness. There is the darkness of determined ignorance and hatred, impenetrable and smothering.' ADVERTISEMENT Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia Catherine Connolly – a fine, honest parliamentarian – would be wasted in the Áras Now that Catherine Connolly TD has launched her bid for the presidency, political commentators are beside themselves with excitement. But given that it has been often said that 'a government is as good as its opposition', we must ask ourselves if it is politically wise to consign this standout parliamentarian to the Park. The presidency is largely a ceremonial role with minimal impact upon public policy, where the most important function is to sign whatever act of parliament is presented to them, and where they cannot address the nation or leave the country without government approval. In the Dáil as an Independent TD free from the constraints of party strategies and agendas, she has held the Government to account on many issues, from the provision of local health centres to the outrages currently being perpetrated upon Palestinians. Almost alone she called out the national antipathy generated by our government towards those who, having assessed the available evidence together with their GP, concluded that taking the Covid jab was not for them. She is admired for admitting in the Dáil that she was wrong in adopting left-wing party policy which insisted on zero-Covid before reopening society and the economy. Incidentally these are the same parties that she now needs to ensure her nomination. Perhaps most memorably before the two failed referendums last year, she was one of very few public figures to call out the absence of legislative scrutiny, disingenuous claims, and the ambiguous language associated with them. We badly need Catherine Connolly's talent and skill set in the Dáil. She is too important to be confined in the Áras enclosure. Gearoid Duffy, Lee Road, Cork Planning pitfalls revealed in report, but can a better turnaround be achieved? I note that recommendations of a report published on Wednesday afternoon last by the new Oireachtas Committee on Infrastructure have called for quicker decision-making as well as a less cumbersome planning process, and more trained construction workers. The committee will also oversee delivery of the revised National Development Plan, which is due to be revealed next week. There have been repeated complaints from industry and from utility companies about the lack of investment in areas – from transport to waste and to water treatment. In last week's report, the committee said projects of national import shouldn't depend on windfall taxes like the Apple billions. If that's the case, it leaves me wondering where they believe this money will be found. John O'Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary Thousands of schoolbooks are dumped each year, so free scheme seems a waste The free schoolbooks scheme needs to be examined. I've just returned from the recycling centre where I deposited a large number of Junior Cert books, most of which were in excellent condition, as pupils do so much work online now. This is such a waste. Thousands of good books are sent to the bin every year. Surely this could be managed better and books could be re-used. Such a waste of taxpayers' money. Donough McGuinness, Bray, Co Wicklow EuroMillions family can toast their win with a very different kind of bread In common with the €250m EuroMillions winners, I enjoy a ham and cheese sandwich. Mind you, the big difference is now is, the 'bread' involved in our different households. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin Kingdom will rule and the 'Donegal boys' will be left sobbing after football final With the greatest respect to Brian McDevitt, ('Donegal boys look to be unstoppable and brought tears to my eyes on Sunday, Irish Independent, Letters, July 16), the only tears he will have at the end of the All-Ireland football final will be tears of sorrow. An Ríocht abú.
Irish Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
Galway TD Catherine Connolly launches bid for Ireland's presidency
CATHERINE CONNOLLY has launched her bid for the presidency of Ireland. The independent Galway TD confirmed she has 'secured the support of my colleagues to run for the office of Uachtarán na hÉireann', with members of the Social Democrats and People Before Profit parties among her supporters. "It's an important day for me, and I'm finally confirming I'm standing for the presidency of Ireland,' she said in a statement made outside Leinster House. Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly outside Leinster House with supporters including members of the Social Democrats and People Before Profit, after she officially announced her intention to run as the next President of Ireland. (Pic: "I stand here, not as a politician seeking office, but as a citizen, to serve as the president of Ireland with the help of the votes and people of Ireland,' she added. "I do so with humility and with hope. I do so with a deep conviction that together we can make this country better and that we can make this country live up to its name as a Republic and show there's a different way. "I'm standing to enable people, empower people to find their own voices, to stand up and be counted and say there is a different way." Mairead McGuinness has been confirmed as Fine Gael's nominee for the Irish presidential election. (Pic: Rolling news) Current President Michael D Higgins will complete his second and final term in the role in November. Ms Connolly is the second person to confirm their intention to run to replace him. Former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness was confirmed as Fine Gael's candidate earlier this week. The election to succeed Mr Higgins is expected to take place in late October. Prospective candidates need the nominations of 20 Oireachtas members to get on the ballot paper. See More: Catherine Connolly, Galway, Ireland, Presidency
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Mary Lou McDonald, Ireland's next president?
With just four months to go until decision time, the race is hotting up. On Wednesday, Catherine Connolly officially joined the hunt, launching her Independent campaign for the Presidency, promising not to take her full salary - but looking forward to a United Ireland "very soon". Ms Connolly defended a trip to Syria with Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan when dictator Bashir al-Assad was in power, and said she was "right at the time" when she previously backed journalist Gemma O'Doherty for a Presidential run. The Galway West Independent rejected the idea that she was the "continuity candidate" after 14 years of Michael D Higgins, for whom she wanted to be a running mate. Earlier in the week former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness predicted the presidential campaign will be 'full on' after being confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate. 'I am conscious of the opportunity and challenge ahead, given the very important constitutional role of the President, and the esteem in which the office is held by the people,' she wrote. Today on The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with The Irish Independent, to discuss the current state of play in the race to the Áras and grade the candidates on their performances so far.
