What would happen if a Unionist ran for the Irish Presidency?

paky · 14-09-2011 06:31PM #1

And got elected? Afterall, they are entitled to run for the presidency arent they?

mike65 · 14-09-2011 06:34PM

Obviously they are, if a gay can....it would be interesting to see who was subject to greater bigotry

ItsAWindUp · 14-09-2011 06:40PM

Not many would vote for them.

spider guardian · 14-09-2011 06:41PM

What kind of Unionist? One who wants Northern Ireland kept in the union or one who wants the entire island back in the union? Either way if there was a revolution and a bill to unite the two jurisdictions passed through the Dail there would be a lot of referrals to the Supreme Court I'd imagine. As well as the continuation of loyalist tea parties at the Aras

copacetic · 14-09-2011 06:44PM

mike65 wrote: »

Obviously they are, if a gay can....it would be interesting to see who was subject to greater bigotry

The unionist would probably subject the homosexual to a fair bit alright.

What 'gay' got to run for president anyway?

Wolfe Tone · 14-09-2011 06:46PM

They wouldn't get elected

Temptamperu · 14-09-2011 06:47PM

is there unionists in the republic

paky · 14-09-2011 06:49PM

all the irish do gooders would vote for them

is it not natural that they would eventually get involved in southern politics?

mike65 · 14-09-2011 06:49PM

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

They wouldn't get elected

That wasn't the question was it?

DecentBee · 14-09-2011 06:49PM

copacetic wrote: »

What 'gay' got to run for president anyway?

Mitchell.

HavingCrack · 14-09-2011 06:52PM

They wouldn't win I presume?

Temptamperu wrote: »

is there unionists in the republic

There used to be quite a lot in the early days of the Free State actually, particularly in the border counties and in Cork and South Dublin (mainly the Rathmines area). By the 1930's most of them had emigrated to England or Northern Ireland however. Trinity College was also well known as a Unionist stronghold until well into the 1950's.

I presume there are still a few knocking about in the area's mentioned above but probably not very many.

Phill Ewinn · 14-09-2011 06:55PM

I'd vote for him/her just to see the cnut stand for the national anthem at the football finals.

RMD · 14-09-2011 06:56PM

paky wrote: »

all the irish do gooders would vote for them

is it not natural that they would eventually get involved in southern politics?

I'd say very few people would vote for them simply because the candidate is Unionist, even the "do gooder". If people were to vote for them, it would be down to suitability quite likely.

I doubt they'll get involved in Irish politics, they'll have no support and no group of people to appeal too. Sinn Fein is still a minority party here, imagine how it would be if the Unionists tried. They'd be laughed out of the polling station.

mike65 · 14-09-2011 06:56PM

Donegal has an Orange Order parade every 12th. (of July obviously)

paky · 14-09-2011 06:58PM

how would you know that no one would vote for them? i'd imagine if sinn fein become stronger down south the unionists will eventually have to field candidates in the south because if they didnt sinn fein would have the upper hand in bargaining if the shinners ever ceased power in the south

would it not be hypocritical of anyone who supported the united ireland concept to not see this as a natural development in irish politics?

KeithAFC · 14-09-2011 06:58PM

DUP over Fianna Fail? Don't think so.

Icaras · 14-09-2011 07:01PM

it depends what kind of lies they are peddling, if they have a lot of easy solutions, a catchy slogan and blame all the problems on Bertie, civil service, gaurds, U2 not payng taxes then I'd say they have a pretty good chance.

mikeyboy · 14-09-2011 07:07PM

Given that their belief system is inherently monarchist and indeed Unionist could a Unionist in good conscience run for the office of President of the Republic?

paky · 14-09-2011 07:09PM

mikeyboy wrote: »

Given that their belief system is inherently monarchist and indeed Unionist could a Unionist in good conscience run for the office of President of the Republic?

if he had the best interests of irish unionists in mind i suppose he could

Capt'n Midnight · 14-09-2011 07:17PM

Here's a clue, Douglas Hyde and Erskine Childers were both Protestants.

mike65 · 14-09-2011 07:19PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Here's a clue, Douglas Hyde and Erskine Childers were both Protestants.

and? Wolfe Tone was Protestant

Scealta_saol · 14-09-2011 07:20PM

Hey, it could be worse... It could be this guy:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2011/0914/1224304072689.html

wolfpawnat · 14-09-2011 07:22PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Here's a clue, Douglas Hyde and Erskine Childers were both Protestants.

mike65 wrote: »

and? Wolfe Tone was Protestant

Indeed many of Irelands greatest republicans were, hell Sam MaGuire got a cup named after him and he was Protestant!

Protestant does not always suggest Unionist, nor does Catholic always suggest Nationalist

HavingCrack · 14-09-2011 07:22PM

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Here's a clue, Douglas Hyde and Erskine Childers were both Protestants.

Protestant does not equate to Unionist. There's lots of Irish people whom are Protestant who aren't Unionists.

Indeed prior to the 1916 Rising many Southern Catholics were staunch loyalists.

Dionysus · 14-09-2011 07:23PM

Surely if a unionist, as opposed to a Protestant, stood for election to the presidency they'd be standing for the end of their potential job and for Ireland to be under the rule of the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha monarchy once again?

I don't think you've thought this one through.

On the other hand, if somebody like Gordon Wilson, ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis, stood he would stand a good chance of being elected.

KeithAFC · 14-09-2011 07:29PM

What would be the point anyway? It would be like a cat jumping into the bath and not out. Would be pointless.

paky · 14-09-2011 07:34PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

What would be the point anyway? It would be like a cat jumping into the bath and not out. Would be pointless.

if unionists wanted to protect their interests against an all island party like sinn fein, it would be advisable for them to play the same game as sinn fein

Dionysus · 14-09-2011 07:37PM

Temptamperu wrote: »

is there unionists in the republic

Yes. Robin Bury, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Ian Cox, Derek Simpson, and the motley crew of nutjobs in the Reform Movement are where it's at. You'll find them in the Dublin Conservative Club lamenting the decline of the Realm in Ireland and across the world and the sorry state of her loyal lieges in the "second capital" of the Empire, Dublin.

They seem to be rather pissed off that they can't be guaranteed jobs for their children in all the insurance companies, banks, breweries, distilleries and The Irish Times by virtue of their being Protestant. From being rulers of all Ireland, it's shocking how their lot has declined, as they've argued.

Next they'll have to fill out application forms without stating that they come from "good Protestant stock" (and its variants). This is what democracy has done to the last remnants of the British colonial community in Ireland. Discrimination! :rolleyes:

KeithAFC · 14-09-2011 07:38PM

paky wrote: »

if unionists wanted to protect their interests against an all island party like sinn fein, it would be advisable for them to play the same game as sinn fein

I suppose but they would need to get elected to make some difference. Donegal and Dublin would be your best bet for some votes. Possibly Cork as we know they like to be rebels.

Mark200 · 14-09-2011 07:39PM

Nothing would happen. The Presidency wouldn't give them power of any kind that would be related to their goals.

paky · 14-09-2011 07:47PM

KeithAFC wrote: »

I suppose but they would need to get elected to make some difference. Donegal and Dublin would be your best bet for some votes. Possibly Cork as we know they like to be rebels.

funny enough, there are many protestants in cork even around clonalkilty of all places! still, just because they are protestants does not mean they would vote unionist.
many people oppose a united ireland due to the perceived negative economic consequences it would bring so whoes to say that irish people would not vote for a unionist party who put forward a solid economic plan that appeals to everyone and not just idealists?

Mark200 wrote: »

Nothing would happen. The Presidency wouldn't give them power of any kind that would be related to their goals.

perhaps not but it would certainly set a historical precendence

What would happen if a Unionist ran for the Irish Presidency?

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