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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Running for Irish president (maybe) day one and two

Posted on Wednesday, June 08, 2011 at 11:47 AM

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"But you weren't born in the US" my wife's aunt said to me at the barbecue, "you can't run for president."

I had to explain it was president of Ireland I was talking about.

She was relieved. 'Thanks be to God... 'You'd never beat Obama anyway' she said.

The spry 85-year old from Kerry is about to embark on her annual pilgrimage to Ireland where she will terrorize the neighbors in Kerry with her all night card games.

Aunt Nora is a wonderful weathervane to measure progress by. After a lifetime of anti British sentiment she was charmed by the Queen's visit to Ireland.

Elizabeth R may be the only 85-year-old on earth in better shape than Aunt Nora I reckon.

After the Irish Times report on their front page that I was considering running, the pace picked up remarkably.

The Sean O'Rourke show on RTE 1, Ireland's national radio station, is the key political program and Sean himself is a Tim Russert-type figure with an encyclopedic knowledge of Irish politics.

He asked me to go on in the early morning my time and talk about my decision. Between shooing my daughter out to school and dealing with the cranky air conditioning (it is 96 degrees here in New York) the time flew by.

As the time for the interview drew near I felt unaccountably nervous.

I am used to doing radio and television but never about myself. Being the man in the arena is a new experience.

Unlike many in the media I have a deep respect for politicians.

It is often a thankless job but the vast majority in my experience start out with the right intentions to do well and do good.

It is what happens after that can be disillusioning but some of the great ones, a Kennedy, a Clinton still make it all seem like a noble profession.

Sure there is always the Greek chorus, never more loud than these days, claiming we are heading for disaster here there and everywhere. They have been there for time immemorial too.

All I know is no pessimist every set foot in America to live.

The journey of every family here from the great to the ordinary began with a man and and woman with a small suitcase departing their homeland for the bright city of America.

I want Ireland to have that sense of optimism,not this dreadful dark cloud that has settled there.

The interview went fine I thought as I sketched out what I believed is the untapped power of the Diaspora in areas such as tourism and economic development to help Ireland.

It was a bit surreal putting down the phone in the Long Island suburb , looking round my house and knowing I had taken a huge step into the unknown wondering what have I gotten myself into.

I'm a great believer that you need to reboot your life from time to time.

I jumped on a Greyhound Bus from Chicago to San Francisco one day back in 1979 rather than go back to Ireland and a teaching job and I've never regretted it since.

Likewise, when I jumped on a plane to New York from California in 1985 it changed my life again.

Where this step leads I have no idea, but the journey is certainly interesting.

Irish in America have certainly come on board A nice note in the Irish Echo, our competitor, from editor Ray O'Hanlon cheering me on was a much appreciated gesture

I will keep you informed.

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33 comments

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fermanaghman | Jun 16, 2011, 08:13 AM EDT

Niall a chara, like the Millenium Entreprenuer Fund Program from EI in 2000 I too was enticed to return to Ireland, opening a business and making my contribution to the labor market under reverse immigration. Unfortuantely for me Dublin's incentivization program was just another political scam and I was left whistling in the wind. As you contemplate your latest enticement strongly consider where the recommendations are coming from.

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tullyallen | Jun 16, 2011, 03:41 AM EDT

Its delirium

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jacersagain | Jun 11, 2011, 08:55 PM EDT

(...more) In my view, there is no point in anybody encouraging Niall to ‘go for it’ if he doesn’t have the essential legal-background qualifications. His American business and political contacts and his astute Good Friday Agreement input (mostly business orientated) will count for nothing and have no bearing on his formal duties to Ireland under its Constitution, nor would he be able to use them or his skills if he was President of the Republic of Ireland. It would take a private initiative of Niall’s, to be first approved by Dáil Éireann, to change the Constitution and then only by approval of the Irish People in a public referendum to do what he feels he could do as an American-business bred Irish President. That’s always a possibility but a highly improbable possibility.

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jacersagain | Jun 11, 2011, 08:51 PM EDT

(... more) Many posters will also not know that all speeches written by a President of Ireland, for delivery as President, must first be approved by the Irish Government (the Govt may veto it or change it). However, the Irish President’s office is internationally recognised and any President’s Govt-approved speech on national and international affairs can have huge effect world-wide. Former President Mary Robinson (a Professor of Law) was excellent in this way, championing many human rights, especially of the Irish Diaspora, of women and children and against world poverty. While President McAleese (also a Professor of Law) has shown similar characteristics, the impact she has made on Irish affairs over her term in office has been largely achieved by her personal interactive attitude and initiatives with and through the behind-the-scenes efforts of her influential husband to help achieve understanding between Irish people north and south on the island of Ireland and, most recently, between the people of the Rep of Ireland and British Royalty. She could not do these things in her capacity as President but she had a very fortunate outlet through her husband to bring fruit to efforts that she could not have made in her capacity as President (the Irish Constitution doesn’t allow such efforts). (more...)

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jacersagain | Jun 11, 2011, 08:46 PM EDT

I think many posters below, especially those outside of Ireland, don’t understand that the Office of the Irish President is largely non-political. Its only real power lies in its responsibility as part of the Oireachtas (Irish Legislature) to formally sign into Irish law the Bills of Law passed by the Irish Parliament (Dáil Éireann). This is normally just a formality but the President may veto signing a Bill into Law if s/he thinks it contravenes the Irish Constitution and may refer it to the Supreme Court for a decision on its constitutionality, after consultation with the Council of State, a body that advises the Presidency on the exercise of its powers, especially where personal doubt or extreme public or legal disquiet arises in relation to a Bill passed by Dáil Éireann. The President therefore must have an in-depth knowledge of the Irish Constitution and its provisions, meaning having a legal background of some weight and importance. Outside of these duties, the President’s office is largely ineffectual in matters of politics, business and national policies and generally an office of national honour representing Irish citizens. (More...)

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KathyCallahan | Jun 10, 2011, 12:03 AM EDT

Were you born to run and win the presidential race for Ireland and Irish living in exile and throughout the diaspora? It's better to run and give it all that you've got now -to call upon past winning peace process experience and apply it now as the candidate to beat: than to retreat and stand still on the sidelines. Wondering after all of he votes are cast -for the rest of your life i could have won -Oops

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nicgearailt | Jun 09, 2011, 08:49 PM EDT

It sounds daunting at this point...but as I would say to anyone considering such a monumental change ,go for it ...Ireland will benefit from a straight talking honest and forthright candidate ,who has no baggage... I will follow with great interest....

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seanomelbourne | Jun 09, 2011, 07:27 PM EDT

About 7 million in Australia George 70million is not far off the mark.

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peterson | Jun 09, 2011, 06:43 PM EDT

Go, Go for it Niall !!!

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casualMBA | Jun 09, 2011, 04:14 PM EDT

...And, Niall, regarding days three and four?

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kinvara7 | Jun 09, 2011, 07:45 AM EDT

Niall if you choose to run then best of luck to you. You need to frame a dialogue that strikes a balance between realism and optimism; between the successes of the last fifteen years and the obvious failings. While I have always been in favour of creating tangible links between Ireland and the Diaspora, you need to be careful how you bring this into your campaign; as you know well, the Diaspora will not be voting in this election. Talking about how Ireland needs to be in the US, business wise, is all well and good but the reality is we are in the EU and that is where our most immediate difficulties lie. If you set about making a contribution to the ongoing negotiations, no matter how slight, you will be seen to be doing more than the other candidates on these vital issues. Show the electorate than you are a fighter for Ireland, not just a talker and you can win.

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kinvara7 | Jun 09, 2011, 07:45 AM EDT

Between now and the election you would do well to use your experience and contacts in the publishing and business world to counter the lack of understanding on the nature of the bailout that exists among the populations of Europe. The negotiations on the interest rate are ongoing and the attitude on the continent is “haven’t we done enough for you”. The media in France and Germany ignore the fact that the Irish taxpayer has shielded their countries from the recklessness of French and German banks. As a consequence their respective populations do not understand this simple fact. The politicians of these countries understand but they also understand the attitude of their people and are either afraid to make concessions or are happy to exploit this ignorance to attain certain gains (France and Corporate Tax rate). You could use your experience and contacts to challenge the reluctance of the European media to inform their populations on this issue and the immoral nature of the current interest rate. If you could gather together like minded people from Ireland and the Diaspora, to fund and implement a sustained presence in various European print media, this would be a story in itself that would be picked up by other media outlets. If the attitude of these populations changed; so would the environment for these negotiations (interest rate) and other talks (time periods and a declaration of continued ECB funding for Irish banks). If you choose to run, you stand a good chance of winning if you can tell the electorate what you are doing and not just what you have done or would like to do for Ireland.

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Towngate | Jun 09, 2011, 05:17 AM EDT

Niall: a...(watch this space). Is this a 'Definite Maybe' or a 'Prospective Possibility' or are you just dipping you toe in to test the water? If so, -judging by the reaction of your devoted readers -you should whip it out; put on your socks and a stout pair of brogues and make a run for the hills as fast as you can! ~ ~ ~ You mention Aunt Nora your trusty weather-vane who has been pointing in the wrong direction about Britain for so long,but has realised it is never too late to overcome her bigotry and 'get it right'! Now, that's an important lesson she has taught you! And lastly; if elected,would you Reboot Ireland and its population? ~ ~ ~ My humble suggestion for them to pray for a giant tsunami to give the place a good wash; has met with a watery response ... maybe they like living with a 100 billion Euro debt they can never repay and are resigned to spending eternity as the laughing stock of the developed world with their begging bowls held out to the rest of the world while they spend their loan money like water! If you stand you will have to forget the 'Irish-Americans'; You will have your hands full dealing with the Irish who are there! You see, Niall,some people would rather have the Problem than the Solution!

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GeorgeDillon | Jun 09, 2011, 02:38 AM EDT

Kittymurphy: What a weird personal attack you made on me! I am, apparently, a "wacist" because I questioned the unchallenged figure of 70 million for the numbers of Irish Diaspora! Well, what's your idea of the figure, that's assuming you have any idea? What a senseless bigot you are. Sad to see such racism & prejudice in a person supposedly in her 20s. What a narrow mind you'll have by your 40s.

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antoman | Jun 08, 2011, 08:03 PM EDT

On the prison laptop at that ;)

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