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Martin McGuinness - the choice for Ireland’s presidential election

Irish voters go to the ballot box in a little over a week to decide who the next president of Ireland will be

Irish Voice Editorial,

Published Thursday, October 20, 2011, 8:54 AM

Updated Thursday, October 20, 2011, 1:15 PM

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Martin McGuinness

Simply put, without him there would be no peace process, no delivery of the IRA to a ceasefire, no government or long term peace dividend on the island of Ireland.

All that appears to have been conveniently forgotten in the rush to demonize McGuinness in large sections of the Irish media.

The Vichy version of history being peddled in parts has the IRA, and by extension McGuinness, as the sole instigator and purveyor of violence in Northern Ireland.

If he does not make president, which appears likely, he will continue to play that critical role in Northern Ireland, and for that we can be thankful.

But he is worth voting for to make the point that the role of president of Ireland does not stop at the Irish border or her shores.

It is wider, embracing a worldwide diaspora as Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese have shown so well.

Let us hope whoever wins the prize is able to reflect that.

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seanomelbourne | Oct 24, 2011, 06:01 PM EDT

Dublincitizen only Irish citizens who live abroad should vote.

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Brolaur | Oct 24, 2011, 02:33 PM EDT

Dana should be ashamed of herself. She gets a FLAT TYRE, keeps on driving and then has the NERVE to claim that this was an attack on her life when the tyre is destroyed???. Deo gratias! She is running last. She has lost all respect and credibility

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DublinCitizen | Oct 24, 2011, 12:55 PM EDT

Stmungo, why should people who don't live in the Irish Repiblic be allowed to decide for us who do should be President of 5 million people.?

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DanOLoingsigh | Oct 24, 2011, 03:46 AM EDT

Seano - no need to get so sore, cobber - you have to read the post in the context of the other post referred to -and after me improving your marks by correcting your previous homework...and that's not maybe!!!

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seanomelbourne | Oct 22, 2011, 06:00 PM EDT

the current president is from belfast dan, is she a visitor. What part of the states do you live in? Maybe your knowledge of Ireland is third hand,it certainly lacks credibility or honesty for that matter.

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DanOLoingsigh | Oct 22, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT

maireadinmelb - Like the Brits, Martin would be (and is)welcomed in Dublin, so long as , like them, he goes home in a few days. It's the difference between a having him as a visitor and a resident that bothers a few...

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Bailey2000 | Oct 22, 2011, 12:38 PM EDT

I have no doubt that Martin McGuinness has some admirable qualities. It is important to remember that the role of the President is to be a symbolic head of state. For the vast majority of residents of the South of Ireland who observed Martin half of their lives as a soldier/patriot/murderer (take your pick) they simply don't see him in this role. I think they are right!

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stmungo | Oct 22, 2011, 11:39 AM EDT

The powers to be in Ireland won't let the diaspora vote. If they did Martin would win in a landslide !

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maireadinmelb | Oct 21, 2011, 05:59 PM EDT

If we are supposed to be getting over things and following the Good Friday Agreement why is only one side doing the forgetting and forgiving! If the brits can be forgiven and welcomed in dublin why can fellow irishmen not be forgiven and welcomed?

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ballindaggin | Oct 21, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT

Martin McGuinness is the right man for the job, but he would be a great loss to Northern Ireland as he is such a good politician.The Aras is a job for someone who can,t hack things in the real world.

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billie061 | Oct 21, 2011, 05:50 AM EDT

I.R.A. in the Aras, no way, not that the rest of them are much better, Dana with her dramatics a has been eurovision winner, not one of them are fit to follow in the footsteps of Robinson or McAleese. It has turned into a farce. Bring on Dustin the turkey.

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cillowen | Oct 20, 2011, 07:03 PM EDT

McGuinness is Ireland - known throughout the world, friend of all the world's major players be they regarded friend or foe, the essence of diplomacy. Its the nature of things that one day America's buddy Sadam, their friend, and the next day they regarded him Satan. Gadaffi, friend to hero Mandela is another out of favor fellow who would't play ball. They'll be more of such friends of the good guys getting a cumuppence in time. The nature of sharks to feed as they do. Good guy McGuiness is an awesome choice for Prez of Ireland he has the backing of many of the heavy business hitters of this planet. Mandela was the IRA-like head who liberated his people of South Africa McGuiness had the courage to cleanse NI of its Apartheid ways. The southies lacking courage will opt for their losers. Losers - you know at everything. Country gone belly-up.

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cillowen | Oct 20, 2011, 07:01 PM EDT

McGuinness is Ireland - known throughout the world, friend of all the world's major players be they regarded friend or foe, the essence of diplomacy. Its the nature of things that one day America's buddy Sadam, their friend, and the next day they regarded him Satan. Gadaffi, friend to hero Mandela is another out of favor fellow who would't play ball. They'll be more of such friends of the good guys getting a cumuppence in time. The nature of sharks to feed as they do. Good guy McGuiness is an awesome choice for Prez of Ireland he has the backing of many of the heavy business hitters of this planet. Mandela was the IRA-like head who liberated his people of South Africa McGuiness had the courage to cleanse NI of its Apartheid ways. The southies lacking courage will opt for their losers. Losters - you know at everything. Country gone belly-up.

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DanOLoingsigh | Oct 20, 2011, 06:39 PM EDT

More baloney from our antipodean poster...The IRA tried to bomb their way to some kind of socialist republic...only when they 'copped on' to the fact that some unionists were just as fanatical abour their rights, did they change tack...a good thing, and MMcG deserves credit for his work after that...not sure he can expect to have his former life ignored...but that's not really the SF agenda, is it?

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seanomelbourne | Oct 20, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT

McGuiness will not make it to aras but he is the only candidate who worked tirelessly for a negotiated settlement in the north. The meanspirited Irish press and their minions posting on IC should hang their heads in shame,their an ignorant lot.

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