09-07-2025
'Hero or villain' - Recap of turbulent presidential races
With the race for Áras an Uachtaráin heating up, a number of names are being touted to succeed Michael D Higgins as president of Ireland.
Reports range from potentially strong runners to complete speculation and celebrity candidates, yet the race is still waiting on its first candidate to officially declare that they will be running.
However, campaigns are likely to start gathering momentum ahead of the Irish public hitting the poles in November.
RTÉ reporter Edel McAllister spoke to a previous candidate on the turbulence of the campaign trail and the public and media's role in challenging those that put their names forward.
"While it was a heart-thumping, totally terrorising, and awful experience on one level, it was also the best thing I ever did," said former Senator Joan Freeman of her 2018 presidency campaign run.
The former CEO of Pieta House ran on a mental health platform as an independent candidate.
"I thought that by running it would allow me and the people of Ireland to look at mental health with compassion...a gateway for everyone to open up and speak about it," Ms Freeman said.
She said she knew the campaign would be tough after the 2011 race. "Everybody that goes into it knows that they are up against it," she added.
In that turbulent 2011 campaign, a false tweet broadcast on a TV debate derailed the campaign of Sean Gallagher, resulting in an apology and damages being paid by RTÉ to the businessman.
Another early front runner, former Senator David Norris blamed elements of the media for sabotaging his campaign and spoke of the detrimental effect it had on his health.
Other independent candidates such as Dana, Chernobyl campaigner Adi Roche and Special Olympics organiser Mary Davis also faced bruising campaigns.
Speaking on the News at One, Joan Freeman said while it is "absolutely correct that the media should challenge candidates and make them accountable".
She said they should also "hear their not slash their character".
There's a lot of names in the current mix to succeed Michael D Higgins as president.
Political parties are beginning their selection process but so far no candidates have formally declared.
The 1997 presidency was the first time independents used four local authorities to nominate them.
Although some parties selected candidates outside the party, such as Mary McAleese who went on to win the 1997 race and serve two terms.
Ms Freeman says she understands why some candidates are maybe waiting to see who else will run.
"I declared fairly early on because I thought Michael D Higgins wasn't going to run for the presidency again.
"If I had known he was sounds as if I am a little bit bitter but I am not one bit. I absolutely get why candidates don't put their names forward because they are exposing themselves to be bruised and brutalised," she said.
She added at the time that she wanted the chance to travel the length and breadth of the country to talk about mental health.
She said while she would not be running again, she would advise anyone thinking of running "not to be afraid" but to "stay away from social media."
"Online you are either a hero or a villain, there is no allowance for nuance," Ms Freeman said.
But even long before the days of social media, the race was a tough one.
"Presidential campaigns have always been intensely personal. If we look back to the early ones, these were often replays of the Civil War and you had very divisive campaigning and personalised attacks on candidates," said Professor of Politics at University College Cork Theresa Reidy.
"One of the reasons why presidential elections are so personalised is because this is a position where powers are many cases the president is selling a narrative about who they are and how they can represent Ireland so it's very much about their personal story and as a consequence the focus comes in quite intensely on who the candidates are," Prof Reidy said.
Those used to the rough and tumble of party politics might be slightly better prepared for the nature of the campaign, but even seasoned independents appear to be thinking twice before putting their heads above the parapet.
