NINE YEARS AFTER his death, a new opinion poll has found that some fifteen per cent of voters would support “a character like” Charlie Haughey as Taoiseach.
The figure is contained in the latest Red C survey, carried out in conjunction with Paddy Power.
Although the number might appear surprisingly high — a closer look at the breakdown of the stats perhaps sheds a little more light on the finding.
1,002 adults were surveyed by the polling company this week, on both landlines and mobile phones. The question…
Recently RTE has been airing a TV programme about the former Taoiseach Charles Haughey. Based on what you know, would you like to see a character like Charles Haughey as Taoiseach if he were alive today?
23 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds said ‘yes’ to that query — with the figure dropping only slightly among 25- to 34-year-olds.
In other words, although people might be developing a sneaking regard for Aidan Gillen’s portrayal of the ex-Fianna Fáil leader — the more likely you are to remember living through the Haughey era, the less likely you are to support a Haughey-like Taoiseach.
For instance, approval drops to just one-in-ten amongst those aged 65-plus (ingrates… Does the free travel pass count for nothing?).
Polling figures for Tommy Carcetti and John Boy Power weren’t available at the time of publication (you’re welcome, Gillen fans).
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