Presidential Election 2025

josip · 24-09-2025 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847276#Comment_123847276

Dublin football supporters are unlikely to vote for Gavin or anyone in significant numbers.

I've just watched the video for the first time. He's not camera friendly. The white trousers were bad, he could have at least rubbed some sh1te on them first. But the gate, jesus you just don't leave a gate open.

Rjd2 · 24-09-2025 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847257#Comment_123847257

I have little time for Martin and I do think the nomination process could be looked at, but if were a Steen supporter I would direct most of my anger towards McDowell who from all accounts refused to back her out of jealously which for someone who is 74 is not exactly a good look, at least with Martin he did it to help his party win the thing!

Quin_Dub · 24-09-2025 04:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847357#Comment_123847357

I agree - That's why I said she has one very very narrow path and that path requires both of the other candidates to have a Brian Lenihan snr "On Mature reflection" scale implosion.

TheCitizen · 24-09-2025 04:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846224#Comment_123846224

she’s not telegenic mate and she’s no loss to the contest with her far right extremist mumbo jumbo.

regards……….

gormdubhgorm · 24-09-2025 04:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847436#Comment_123847436

I was thinking about this re the Dublin GAA support. There is a section of Dublin support that will have the Palestine flags and Dublin 1916 jerseys from the SF shop etc. That section will still likely go Connolly and not Gavin. It will be interesting to see the breakdown of the Dublin vote after the election.

24-09-2025 04:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847152#Comment_123847152

The things he said are valid but as President he had no business expressing them. We are a parliamentary democracy with an essentially ceremonial head of state and a very restricted constitutional role. This is broadly similar to Germany and Italy. Whoever is president should stick to that and keep their personal political views behind closed doors, whatever hue those views might be.

Executive power (and responsibility) rests with the government through parliament. If we want an executive president then we need to change the constitution.

Red Silurian · 24-09-2025 04:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847395#Comment_123847395

Who is bad mouthing Dilly O Wee?

I mean, sure, what breezy1985 is saying might sound harsh to a normal person. But Dilly loves the truth and would probably take what he says as a compliment

tayto lover · 24-09-2025 04:23PM

This will probably be the first time I didn't use my vote. I see nothing in any of the three candidates and I'm not going to vote just for the sake of it or put the three names in a hat and pick one, again just for the sake of it. I can't remember any election in my many years with candidates as poor as this.

24-09-2025 04:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847439#Comment_123847439

"By all accounts" - which accounts would they be? Might it not be that he had very different views than her on many issues? McDowell is essentially politically liberal and very far from Iona ideology.

breezy1985 · 24-09-2025 04:26PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847436#Comment_123847436

The Dubs are trying to pretend they are not as backwards as the rest of us but the home town vote will exist there just like it does outside The Pale.

johnny_ultimate · 24-09-2025 04:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847462#Comment_123847462

Higgins is a politican with strongly-held beliefs, and he had every right to voice his opinion on the matters he did voice his opinion on. Once they do not interfere with the constitutional roles that have been assigned to him, which AFAIK they never or very rarely have.

While the presidency is a largely ceremonial role, there is no benefit - in fact, I would argue, there is active harm - in having a quiet automaton in the role who will just merely smile and get on with their assigned duties. Higgins spoke out on various matters of conscience and importance with eloquence and intelligence, and I would be happy with his successor do the same. We're all free to agree or disagree with what he has said, of course - certainly the man has not escaped criticism during his time in office. But personally I think it would be a moral failure for the president to look at Ireland's homelessness crisis or international injustices and not speak up about them with the passion Michael D often has. When he spoke about them, people listened.

He has done so while avoiding explicit party politics or clashes with the government (though perhaps inevitably some tacit criticism on the areas they have failed to offer an adequate response), and IMO has been an ideal president as a result.

gormdubhgorm · 24-09-2025 04:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847474#Comment_123847474

🤣

You have a point.

Looking at the 2011 Presidential elections 1st Preference Dana won Donegal North East.

Gavin’s club is Clonkdalkin Round Towers. But the problem is Clonkdalkin is in the Dublin Mid West Constituency. Where two of the five TD’s are SF. One of whom is the high profile O’Broin. So there be some split loyalties among some of that electorate.

VinLieger · 24-09-2025 04:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847472#Comment_123847472

"By all accounts" = mcguirks daily grift

McDowell is a narcissist who was never going to nominate anyone except himself what this just shows more of this entitlement a certain section of society think she had to a nomination, i think the butthurt over McDowell specifically is he was in the same camp as her regarding last years referenda so they wrongly assumed he would automatically support the likes of steen for president as well

Allinall · 24-09-2025 04:38PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847470#Comment_123847470

You'll just be letting others decide for you who will be president for the next seven years.

That's your prerogative, of course, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

gormdubhgorm · 24-09-2025 04:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847470#Comment_123847470

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847512#Comment_123847512

I was thinking about not voting as well, at one stage. But then realised I would lose the right to criticise the President who wins. As I didn’t place my vote.

tayto lover · 24-09-2025 04:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847512#Comment_123847512

I just can't give my vote to someone I don't like just for the sake of it. Voted in every election and referendum but this one has me going eeny, meeny miney.

tayto lover · 24-09-2025 04:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847521#Comment_123847521

You could also be cursing yourself and saying '' why did I vote for that idiot?''

24-09-2025 04:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847494#Comment_123847494

I am not sure you would think him ideal if a president expressed personal political views which happened to be diametrically opposite to those, eg, along the lines that Israel has the perfect right and responsibility to defend itself as it sees fit, and our government should keep its nose out of the housing market (not views I support by the way).

All this is up to the government, answerable to parliament and ultimately to the people. A president with strong personal views on foreign policy, for example, could easily find him or herself in open conflict with the government and cause severe international embarrassment.

Brendan Bendar · 24-09-2025 04:45PM

Ms Connolly to e interviewed on RTE Drivetime shortly…..the tenor of the interviews will be interesting.

First question deflected.

No hard questions from O'hEadhra…here's one ….. deflected again

United Ireland up now….not giving a straight answer according to O'hEadhra

Off on a solo run now deflecting again, gone off the subject asked.

Again deflection on the Irish Language

O'Headhra totally flummoxed.

Lets see how the other two perform

Loafing Oaf · 24-09-2025 04:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847462#Comment_123847462

Yep, Garret Fitzgerald had a true grasp of the presidential role. He said he turned down offers to run for the office because he "didn't want to spend seven years saying only anodyne things"…

paddyisreal · 24-09-2025 04:52PM

maybe i am missing something but ff/fg got 43 percent of the vote between them in the last general election - this vote will be split between gavin/humpries . the left leaning parties between sf/lab/pbp/sd got 33 percent - this vote will not be split. I cant definetly see connolly leading after the first count, what happens next is anyones guess.

Brendan Bendar · 24-09-2025 04:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123846810#Comment_123846810

McGuirk is an idiot just trying to big up his profile.

Steen had seven years to decide whether or not she was interested in the Àrus….. but she decides at the last minute to make a run.

Do these people think the Irish electorate as thick as they are.

At times like this I feel they do.

Loafing Oaf · 24-09-2025 04:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847536#Comment_123847536

A president with strong personal views on foreign policy, for example

Just a random hypothetical example eh?😜

Loafing Oaf · 24-09-2025 04:58PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847551#Comment_123847551

I cant definetly see connolly leading after the first count, what happens next is anyones guess.

Well yes as long as that 'guess' is along the lines of: the transfers of whichever of Gavin or Humphries is eliminated elects the other fairly comfortably…

johnny_ultimate · 24-09-2025 04:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847536#Comment_123847536

The people of Ireland voted for him twice, aware of the kind of (undeniably progressive) values he stood for - I think he's been perfectly consistent in adhering to those over the course of 14 years. If someone with diametrically opposed views was elected, well they'd be entitled to voice their opinions in the same way he has - though I think speaking openly in favour of injustices might put them in more frequent disagreement with a large chunk of the population.

There are other ways I think Michael D has been an ideal president. He's been a fantastic patron and supporter of the arts for example - been a few times over the years when I've been at, say, the IFI and he's shown up as well for the screening. He's also been great at supporting smaller community events and initiatives. He's been an equally strong advocate for the Irish language, and has negotiated the diplomatic demands of his role well IMO (including how he handled controversial 'centenary of Northern Ireland' event a few years back).

Of course, I'd never deny he adheres closely to many of my personal values and ideological positions - no question that informs my perspective. But I really do feel he's done Ireland proud over 14 years - and that includes his willingness to speak up where others may have stayed quiet.

breezy1985 · 24-09-2025 05:00PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847470#Comment_123847470

Thats how I feel. I can't see anyone in the debates making me really like them but someone might make me hate them which would give me a reason to vote.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847551#Comment_123847551

Plenty in Labour not happy Connolly was backed and I assume SF will have the same.

Quin_Dub · 24-09-2025 05:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123847551#Comment_123847551

The percentages will be a bit higher as the ~25% that went Independent will have to choose among the 3.

So , the big question is - Where will those ~25% choose to go?

Some will go to Connolly as the "anti-Government" option , but equally some will go with one of the others too.. How they choose to vote will be critical

If you are directionally correct in terms of the distribution of 1st Preferences (and I think you might very well be) then what happens next is fairly easy to predict really. Whoever is the lesser of HH or JG will get eliminated and the vast majority of their transfers will go to the other and not Connolly, handing them the victory.

If Connolly can pick up ALL the voters that did not vote for the Parties of Government (including the Indys) then she has a shot , but she needs every last one of them.

But if combined HH/JG are 55%/60% on 1st preference then she's done I'm afraid.