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Gallagher comes out fighting in bid to save his presidential race

Front runner takes to the streets to clear his name ahead of poll

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 7:47 AM

Updated Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 7:47 AM

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Sean Gallagher speaks to the press outside RTE

Photo by Collins

Independent candidate Sean Gallagher has come out fighting to save his Aras bid on the final day of campaigning in the Irish presidential election.

Gallagher took to the streets for his final canvass push adamant that he is not running for FiannaFail and refuting all claims that he belongs to the ‘Galway Tent set’.

The Cavan born entrepreneur has been at the eye of a media storm ever since Sinn Fein’s Martin

McGuinness accused him of acting as a Fianna Fail bagman three years ago.
Controversial businessman Hugh Morgan, a convicted fuel smuggler, has confirmed

McGuinness’s story that he made a near $8,000 donation to Fianna Fail via Gallagher at a 2008 fund raising dinner in Dundalk.

The revelation has rocked support for Dragon’s Den star Gallagher and hit his vote transfer potential hard.

But Gallagher has entered the final day on the hustings determined to clear his name and persuade voters that he is no Fianna Fail clone.

“Sinn Féin and Mr Morgan have had so many versions of this fabricated story that it only serves to further compound the lie,” claimed Gallagher again on Wednesday.

“I was shell-shocked, that this was thrown in to a televised debate, and that he was saying that I delivered a photograph and collected a cheque.”

Gallagher had enjoyed a 15 point lead over nearest challenger Michael D Higgins in the opinion polls before Monday night’s TV bombshell.

Observers now believe his position has been severely weakened and the balance of power has shifted back to the veteran Labor Party candidate.

Higgins has said that voters should look to a candidate’s reputation before making up their mind in Thursday’s election.

“The president should satisfy every concern about trust and everything about transparency,” said Higgins.

Independent candidate Mary Davis said: “Mr Gallagher’s answers to the questions raised had not clarified anything. Instead, even more questions now arise.”

In a separate development, Gallagher has also side-stepped all questions about his business dealings in the recent past, particularly in relation to a 2009 loan from his company Beach House Training and Consulting Ltd.

“All questions should be directed to my press office,” said Gallagher.

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Towngate | Oct 26, 2011, 07:24 PM EDT

Poor Sean was kidnapped,ambushed, shaken, rattled and rolled by the equally evil pair of McGuinness and Kenny during the 'debate'. He's a goner,for sure, - but hey! good news: - so is McGuinness, for he took such malicious delight in firing at point blank range, you'd almost swear he'd ....... No. Better not! Just to say he has made it clear just what he is made of - and its not a President! He has altered his story about Morgan since, and the 'Twitter' which Kenny disgracefully quoted as coming from the SF website has been shown to be a Hoax. They knowingly and callously 'did for' Gallagher knowing he could not hope to repair the damage. Anyway, rather them than me... the contest is over. Let's wish good luck to them all in the voting! They deserve that, at least.

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jacersagain | Oct 26, 2011, 06:30 PM EDT

(...more) In the ‘Galway Tint’ one could meet the Fianna Fáil party leader (none other than the Taoiseach, Prime Minister, of the Republic of Ireland) and his cohorts, pose for photographs with him or them and be persuaded to part with some of your money (called a donation) to the political party and in return you’d “be never forgotten, favours would be returned”. Thousands of Gambling ‘Gombeens’ i.e. ‘Business’ people with few or no business talents and people on the ‘make’ visited the ‘Tint’, wrote cheques and like a very, very, few gamblers, got big returns... that is until so many were ‘donating’ or banking on a good return like gamblers do, that the Fianna Fáil party’s coffers burst open, and like a flooded river, burst its banks and the Irish country’s Banks as well. So much for a weather shelter... The Galway Tent has long been blown away into infamy, shredded by the economic perfect-storm force winds hitting our island of Ireland and our world. What puzzles me is why so many people at horse-racing events still don’t see a problem giving their money to three card-tricksters in their ‘tents’ everywhere. Their eyes must be ‘tinted’ too. Like Gallagher and all the Irish “Presidential” hopefuls. I’ll leave ‘em all guessing who’s gonna be my no. 1.

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jacersagain | Oct 26, 2011, 06:15 PM EDT

@ jackinny and others, the ‘Galway Tent’, or, in a Galway accent ‘The Galway Tint’ was, literally, a tent (a kind of bad weather shelter; I’m sure you’ve heard of it... ask any American Indian, Siberian or African Nomad or anyone who faced Yogi Bear in the Yosemites. Eskimos call it an igloo. Or ask any rescue worker involved in calamitous events.) The Galway ‘Tint’ was one of a huge number of tents erected during the Celtic Boom years at the annual Galway Races, a popular horse-racing event in the West of Ireland. Like all horse racing events in Ireland, tents are erected by all and sundry: carnival people, three-card tricksters, circus acts and food, beer and winery sellers etc. All of these people had and still have one purpose in common: to part you from your money. The largest and most popular political party in Ireland at the time, the Fianna Fáil Party, got a brain-wave as the popularity of the Galway Races grew, especially amongst ‘Gamblers’ (mark that word) that it too would erect a tent alongside all those others. (More...)

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jackinny | Oct 26, 2011, 01:14 PM EDT

I think I can figure out what "Galway Tent Set" means but I would appreciate an exact definition. Thanks

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pilib04 | Oct 26, 2011, 12:00 PM EDT

It will take a Derryman (or woman) to finally straighten out the south. Up Sinn Fein!

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DanOLoingsigh | Oct 26, 2011, 11:22 AM EDT

mlpowner - Nobody looked into young (15-year-old),Fermanagh born Paul Maxwell's eyes before they blew him to bits...maybe you need to get real about your 'heroes'?

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cillowen | Oct 26, 2011, 11:09 AM EDT

How crooked, the Fianna Fail bagman who accepted money from controversial businessman Hugh Morgan, a convicted fuel smuggler. The Dev party of NY born England's Greatest Spy whose service to Ireland's occupier continues on - the gutless wonders of Eire largely stood by, while NI brothers yearning for human rights were beaten to a pulp. The gall to force those souls who fought like an army against such an apartheid system, in spite of odds that in retrospect yielded a modicum of rights, for such brave ones to now being prodded to use suitable words and have them put their tails between their legs to satisfy the cowardly northie/southies fearing agenda. They are so eager to kiss Her ring again and again. The Fighting Irish are but few and far between - took a handful in 1916 - gave 'em a partial state. Hounddog Mitchell wants to rejoin the UKers commonwealth can one appreciate the madness that pertains.

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cillowen | Oct 26, 2011, 11:08 AM EDT

How crooked, the Fianna Fail bagman who accepted money from controversial businessman Hugh Morgan, a convicted fuel smuggler. The Dev party of NY born England's Greatest Spy whose service to Ireland's occupier continues on - the gutless wonders of Eire largely stood by, while NI brothers yearning for human rights were beaten to a pulp. The gall to force those souls who fought like an army against such an apartheid system, in spite of odds that in retrospect yielded a modicum of rights, for such brave ones to now being prodded use suitable words and have them put their tails between their legs to satisfy the cowardly northie/southies fearing agenda. They are so eager to kiss Her ring again and again. The Fighting Irish are but few and far between - took a handful in 1916 - gave 'em a partial state. Hounddog Mitchell wants to rejoin the UKers commonwealth can one appreciate the madness that pertains.

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mlpowner | Oct 26, 2011, 10:21 AM EDT

Come on, seriously, knife in the back...get real. The IRA would look you straight in the eye. Only quislings use the knife in the back approach.

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mlpowner | Oct 26, 2011, 10:15 AM EDT

Hey,this is what big boy politics is all about. In the US we call this an October surprise.

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tomgallagher | Oct 26, 2011, 09:33 AM EDT

Leave it to the IRA to use the knife in the back approach.

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hollabackgurl | Oct 26, 2011, 07:51 AM EDT

A Finanna Fail bundler? For president? Is that what we've come to?