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SPECIAL OLYMPICS ORGANISER Mary Davis looks to have won her nomination as an Independent presidential candidate after securing the backing of two more councils.
Tipperary North County Council yesterday voted to support Ms Davis’ bid, while Kerry County Council passed a “motion of intent” to nominate her. She has already won support from local authorities in Louth, Monaghan, Mayo and Limerick. A candidate requires the backing of four local authorities, or 20 members of the Oireachtas, to run in the election.
Kerry County Council passed the motion by 13 votes to two, with all Fine Gael councillors abstaining. However, a spokesman told RTÉ it was not a final endorsement of Ms Davis’ candidacy and the council will not formally nominate a candidate until September at the earliest.
According to the Irish Times, Ms Davis told the council chamber: “I want to rebuild and repair the good name of Ireland internationally. In my travels abroad I have seen how the reputation has become tarnished. I would like to bring my energy and dynamism to the role of president.”
Four would-be Independent presidential candidates addressed Kerry councillors yesterday: Ms Davis, Senator David Norris, businessman Seán Gallagher and ‘People’s Choice’ candidate Richard McSweeney. Mr Gallagher has already won the support of four councils, while only one has pledged to back Senator Norris.
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Who is she?
She’s an incredible woman and would make a truly inspirational President of Ireland. You can read about her here http://www.marydavis.ie/about-marydavis/
Well since she won the backing of 6 councils we know one thing she is not gay and not a political treat compared to other candidates which is not the case for David Norris.
@Frank – just because someone doesn’t vote or a council doesn’t back Norris, it doesn’t make them homophobic. It’s people like you making reference to it that kind of make his running shambolic, like he should get in by DEFAULT because he is gay.
Is he a Candidate or a Gay Candidate or a Candidate who is gay?
David Norris is a candidate who has majority of public support if nominated. The fact that he is not is shambolic. Political parties use party policy as excuse and ultra Christian parties only need the fact he is gay as excuse not to include him in nomination. Galway council won’t let him speak so what other reason is there.
@Frank – how can you say he has the majority of public support? He is the most prominent and outspoken candidate yes, but no one can say anyone is a sure thing. There are other candidates with other outstanding qualities looking to be a runner. The mere mention of the word ‘gay’ in every bloody press statement and forum or discussion about the race for nomination or presidency makes me mad. He is a candidate on his own merits, if he doesn’t get through or voted in i’d be sick of people hiding behind the ‘oh its because he was gay’.
No one takes a look and says, what has he done in his TWENTY FOUR years of sitting in a political house, that lets face it up until 3 months ago we were looking to scrap at is a waste of money and resources.
I’m not anti-Norris or whatever, i would like to vote for someone based not on what sex of person he fancies or because he was good on Living with Lucy a couple of years ago.
While I’ll be voting for Norris if he gets his nomination, her work on the Special Olympics is to be admired and also wouldn’t it be funny to have another Mary as president? We’ve had 21years of Marys so far!
Would all the councillors out there listen to the voice of the people and give Norris the nomination.
Davis has no political baggage and therefore will be a breath of fresh air when it comes to the campaign in september. Keep the presidential election a political free zone!
What a silly comment. A political career shouldn’t preclude someone from being President. Surely a candidate like David Norris that has used his political position to fight for justice and equality has every right to run for President? Do you think that Mary Robinson had too much “political baggage” when she ran for President?
In fairness, did anyone actually think that David Norris would get much support from Kerry County Council ?
It’s that attitude from his supporters that will limit his chances come the campaign.
Gallagher already has support of 5 not 4 councils as you suggest above.
I don’t see what qualifications she has to become the next President apart from being old.
1. have you ever heard of google?
2. “old” – bizarre comment.
3. Have you ever seen a copy of the constitution much less read Arts 12-14 inclusive?
There is no excuse for pure ignorance – end of!
G’wan Mary girl, drive it home!
What has damaged Norris in the search for a Council Nomination is not that he is Gay (although let’s face it, that is probably a minor factor), but the fact that the text of his interview in Magill magazine has been widely disseminated to County Councillors by person(s) unknown. Half the problem were the views expressed (which he disputes) and the other half is that the whole episode adds to the perception of Norris as a voluble loose cannon who is a drinking buddy of disaster). Also – in my opinion – the fact that he is perceived as a “Trinity West Brit” would be more likely to raise the hackles of the average rural councillor (particularly those with Republican leanings) than the fact that he is gay…
Gallagher has his 4,
Davis has her 4
but
Norris only has the 1
and somehow it’s all Fine Gael’s fault……..
A LEADER SHOULD DOMINATE EVENTS….NOT BE DOMINATED BY THEM…
LIFE IS EXCITING….WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES….SURELY THE DOOR TO
THE ARAS IS OPENING…..KEEP GOING!
have your say