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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Making my decision on running for Irish president ---weighing the pros and cons

Posted on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at 11:31 PM

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A few weeks ago I announced I was considering running for president of Ireland and that I would decide within a set time period.

After a couple of weeks of campaigning that still holds.

It will be one of the toughest decisions I have made.

On the plus side I have been deeply moved by the support of emigrant Irish everywhere, from the US to Australia to Canada and Britain.

I have heard from so many, saying how glad they are that we Irish abroad might finally have a voice.

That really hit home at the Top 50 Women of Influence event we hosted on Thursday of last week.

The goodwill and sense of solidarity was frankly, overwhelming.

I was also deeply encouraged by a four-day visit to Ireland and the sense that a new voice in the debate was very welcome.

I stressed jobs and a proactive Team Ireland approach that went over well.

People are sick of politicians over there, unfairly so perhaps in terms of the current candidates who had little to do directly with the Irish meltdown, so an outside voice is helpful.

On the minus side is the sheer logistical challenge such a bid presents, from moving back to Ireland for the campaign, to setting up a fully fledged campaign to going up against powerful parties which have election machinery in place.

Those concerns have moved from the abstract to the real and how they can be dealt with. It is a complex process, essentially involving a primary where you have to get 20 elected representatives to support you before the actual vote.

I am still knee deep in figuring all that out.

The candidacy so far has been interesting to say the least. Three articles, two in the Irish Times one in the Sunday Independent by British unionists attacking my candidacy was a fair indication of where the traditional hostility against Irish in America lies.

All seemed to want to fight the peace process all over again, not content with how it had worked out -- the singularly most successful political accommodation of the last half century in Europe.

I take great pride in playing a small part in achieving that

All other commentary apart from the wailing wall chorus was balanced, much of it very favorable, so I can't complain.

There have been moments of great light relief too I have to say. I notice tonight Paddy Power bookmakers has now included me at 66/1 to be next Mayor of New York!

I'm sure Christine Quinn who I just conducted a fundraiser for for that very job will be amused. She's an excellent price at 5/2 by the way!

So it will come down to a final decision. I know how privileged I am to be in even with an outsider's chance of such an incredible job.

I'll let you know.

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36 Comments

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WalterEllis | Jun 30, 2011, 02:41 PM EDT

Since you obviously missed it first time around: Niall: I am not a "British Unionist". I am a moderate nationalist from the northern Protestant community who has favoured Irish unity since I was 12 years-old and first visited my relatives in County Sligo. In the first reference you ever made to me, back in 2008, you denounced me as an acolyte of Major Ronald Bunting, the one-time Paisleyite rabble-rouser, when the truth was that I was the close friend of his son, the future Belfast commander of the INLA – the man who masterminded the assassination in the car park of the House of Commons of the MP Airey Neave. Every time you refer to me (which is frequently), you call me "British," which you clearly regard as an insult (though I do not). In fact, though I am from Northern Ireland and worked for some years in London (as well as Cork, Dublin, Brussels, Bonn, Amsterdam and Jerusalem), I regard myself as Irish and carry an Irish passport. I will make no further comment on your Irish presidential ambition, but would appreciate it if you could at least acknowledge me – as even Pearse would have done – as one of the Children of the Nation.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 28, 2011, 07:44 PM EDT

Niall you may as well run you might add a bit of commom sense to the field of nohopers who have nominated so far.

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seanomelbourne | Jun 28, 2011, 07:42 PM EDT

An bhfuilim ceart, may be more grammtically correct George.

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 28, 2011, 02:39 PM EDT

KathyCallahan: Why are you directing your nonsense at me?

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 28, 2011, 02:36 PM EDT

AngelPrecious " I know Trealach from chat and he does speak the Irish language in chat at times". You may know trealach, but you obviously don't know Irish. I do. Three errors, "howlers" as my old Latin teacher used to put it, in two lines is enough to condemn trealach to the dunces' corner. There he joins the imbecilic antoman, whose Irish is also non-existent. If you want to join them that's your prerogative. Trealach and antoman know little or no Irish: That's a fact, not an opinion. They should be ashamed of themselves, years of "studying" Irish and they can't write two correct words in the language. How much time and resources was wasted on trying to teach these two! Truly they are evidence that you can teach someone all their life, but you can't make him learn. Anyone who looks to this dopey duo for judgments of Irish language proficiency is a fool.

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Irishphotograph | Jun 28, 2011, 01:34 PM EDT

Niall you have my support. I have been involved in political activism. Volunteering my time and labour to post posters during Election and Referendums. I am a descendant of John Devoy (IRB) and like John. I too have a passion for this country to succeed. imagesbydavid.net

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Towngate | Jun 28, 2011, 11:47 AM EDT

Joycean: You may have put your finger on an important point. You see, as Niall may have found, - that once you have left,those remaining consider you have fallen off the edge of the world and any intentions you may have had of returning to stay or even as a visitor is viewed in financial terms and paradoxically also as a threat. Commonly heard during the boom years: "Look at them all crawling back now we have the country running lovely"! ~ Look at the state of the place now! We Irish are an insular and parochial lot which is strange as we all came to the island from different places originally. ~~~~~~ On a personal note,though,your:- " In Ireland, I've found very few people who actually want to get to know me..." Maybe your expectation was too high ~ but I just hope you weren't as rude to them as you are to several people on this site! That might explain it. Try being nice - and constructive and then even the creakiest doors will open to you. Slainte.

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joycean | Jun 28, 2011, 08:45 AM EDT

Niall would make a great Irish president because he has lived outside the island and learned to open his heart to people whose experiences in life have been different.There are two "Habits of the Heart": dealing with people who have come from the same background and dealing with people from diverse backgrounds. Irish emigrants are the latter, and the Irish don't understand them. In Ireland, I've found very few people who actually want to get to know me. People like Walter Ellis who pretend to know emigrants, but really only perpetuate stereotypes make matters worse. People like Enda Kenny who welcomed everyone home, have good hearts, but need help going the next step. It is insulting to be told, "Come home because we need you money." Unfortunately, I know the logistics probably make it unlikely Niall will run, but at least he's given us the opportunity to discuss.

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MrSinatra | Jun 28, 2011, 05:15 AM EDT

HAHAHAHHAHAH, do it, we need a laugh!

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rpmschevy | Jun 28, 2011, 01:32 AM EDT

Maybe just maybe you are getting lambasted because you are no longer living in Ireland. Maybe it is because you left Ireland for another country, and oh yeah, were a criminal in that other country. I have no idea who George is, but wow look at that. The wonderful "progressives" talking like Jr High kids with name calling and insults. Cannot make a valid statement so insults. Love it.

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dan Breen | Jun 27, 2011, 09:44 PM EDT

Keep smoking crack !

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AngelPrecious | Jun 27, 2011, 06:56 PM EDT

LOL, where is GeorgeDillon???

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Trealach | Jun 27, 2011, 06:15 PM EDT

Dillon bhuoy, póg mo thóin - "an bhuil an ceart agam"? what the hell is that you moronic american buffoon? It's better to be thought a fool, and remain silent, that to prove it in print for the world to see - but then some people go to such lengths to prove it. It's 'bhuil ceart agam'. I suggest you learn English grammar and forget your feeble attempt at Irish. One typing mistake doesn't prove anything, but reconsigning it does exemplify your ignorance - yet again.

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cillowen | Jun 27, 2011, 04:31 PM EDT

Neil has the resume but presence to sell ol erin's cause is something else.

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antoman | Jun 27, 2011, 04:29 PM EDT

An bhuil an ceart agam??? Does he mean "am I right?"..then it should be an "bhuil ceart agam?"Anyway,going by georgyboy.All Irish people should be able to abairt as gaeilge.In the same way that all Americans should be able to communicate using one or all of the Native American dialects.

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