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Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin offers Gay Byrne Presidential support

Veteran broadcaster promises decision within a week

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 6:47 AM

Updated Wednesday, August 10, 2011, 6:49 AM

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Possible presidential candidate Gay Byrne

Photo by Google Images

The Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has offered veteran broadcaster Gay Byrne the party’s support in the Presidential election – if he decides to run.

Byrne has promised the nation an answer next week after he emerged as the new frontrunner to succeed Mary McAleese as President of Ireland.

Support for the Irish television legend now stands at almost 60 per cent according to the latest opinion poll from a Dublin radio station.

Byrne has shot to the top of the charts after gay senator David Norris was forced to withdraw from the race after a series of damaging revelations.

The 77-year-old Byrne is awaiting the return of one of his daughters from a holiday in France before he can hold a family meeting to discuss the Presidency.

But he has admitted to receiving a phone call from Fianna Fail leader Martin offering his party’s support if Byrne decides to run.

“They (Fianna Fail) have guaranteed me their support, but I am not a Fianna Fail candidate. I will be an Independent,” insisted Byrne.

“I think people realize that one way or the other I am assured Fianna Fail backing, but I am not a Fianna Fail candidate. This has been ironed out. I am assured there will be cross-party support.

“The official approaches have all been made. Fianna Fail are convinced no matter who they put up will be unelectable, so they’re giving me their support.”

Byrne is now awaiting the return of daughter Suzy from a French holiday before sitting down with her sister Crona and his wife Kathleen to reach a decision on the Presidency.

He added: “That’s part of the reason why I won’t be able to make a decision for at least a week.
“It’s one seven-year term and I will be old enough if I get through that.

“Mary McAleese has tried to push the boundaries and I would be in danger of pushing the boundaries. But it is a ceremonial office and there are huge constraints on what you may do.”

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GeorgeDillon | Aug 10, 2011, 01:00 PM EDT

I don't think it's necessary for an Irish president to know Irish. But I do think it's unacceptable if an Irish president hates Irish, as does Byrne. Other candidates and presidents, such as McAleese and Norris made the effort to learn Irish. No one could criticize them if their Irish never reached higher than C- level, they at least respected the language. But this guy Byrne hates the gaelic language. I don't believe he'll ever be president once people start examining what he stands for.

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GeorgeDillon | Aug 10, 2011, 12:54 PM EDT

When I read trealach's note I assumed it was garbage, because that's what he does. However, since I do not claim to be an expert on this guy Byrne, I contacted my sources in Ireland. Their response when I asked them to confirm Byrne's ability as an Irish speaker? "“Ni hamháin nach bhfuil cumas ag Byrne sa Ghaeilge, is fuath leis an teanga”. That means, for trealach and anyone else who doesn't speak Irish: "Byrne doesn't have any ability in Irish and what's more, he hates the language." You're pretty illiterate in English, too, trealach. You completely misread what was a cogent posting from themurphia. You're a dope!

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cillowen | Aug 10, 2011, 11:39 AM EDT

Gay - conjures up too much at this time - enough about the word gay.

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themurphia | Aug 10, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

Trelach..I saw an excerpt of the Germaine GREER interview...I read Tim Pat Coogan's report of the Gerry Adam's interview recently...I did not say Germaine GREER was the mother of Casey's son I couldn't remember the woman's name...hence the proviso 'apparently' because I had not seen the interview...So I have not 'watched a lot' however whenever it did come on I either turned off literally and metaphorically speaking according to where I was at the time...if I was in someone else's house it would not have been my place to decide what should watch on TV...Got it now...?

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Trealach | Aug 10, 2011, 10:14 AM EDT

@themurphia - For a person who can;t turn off the TV fast enough, you certainly watched a lot before reaching for the remote. AT least get your facts straight - Germaine Green is not the mother of Bishop Casey's son, it's Annie Murphy, and American woman. As for BrainlessDillion's comments - they're just too stupid to be worthy of any comment - but it's strange how Gay Byrne is a fluent Irish Speaker hates the language ....you moron!!

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themurphia | Aug 10, 2011, 08:50 AM EDT

If smugness and simpering sychophancy were Olympic sports Gaybo/re would be a gold medallist...He tried to humiliate Gerry Adams by portraying him as the most hated man in Ireland when Adams appeared on the Late Late Show in 1994 according to Tim Pat Coogan...He tried to do the same to Germaine Greer but she outsmarted him (natch)...he also apparently made some inappropriate comments about her son having a fine father in Bishop Casey to the woman involved causing her to walk off the show...I could never turn the show off quickly enough when I saw his smug mug...just thinking about it makes me nauseous...!

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GeorgeDillon | Aug 10, 2011, 07:47 AM EDT

I don't know much about this guy Byrne, but a relative of mine in Ireland whose opinion I value describes him as epitomizing "the mediocrity of modern Ireland". Worse, he's anti- Irish nationality. He hates the Irish Gaelic language. Further, on radio recently he described the 3rd West Cork Brigade, the IRA unit which effectively broke British rule in Cork in 1921, as "gangsters". What other country except mediocre Ireland would even consider such a spineless mediocrity for president? And what other party save the unprincipled gangster Fianna Fail, which dishonestly describes itself as Republican, would back someone who hates Irish Republicanism?

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