Search Results for 'Mary McAleese'

Allegations of attempted murder, family rows, child abuse, age of consent, dodgy dealing with envelopes, confrontations with sons of murdered gardai, internal party bickering, quango queens, televised meltdowns, sibling savagery, bloody hands, political assassinations — it has been one hell of a presidential election campaign which comes to an end this evening when the last votes are cast and the doors on the polling station close at 10pm. Every element of the campaign so far would not be out of place on The Jerry Springer Show. Shows such as Springer’s specialise in gathering people bound by some connection in one place and then watching them disintegrate in front of a televised audience. It is the principle behind Big Brother, The Apprentice, My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

Local TD Nicky McFadden paid a visit to UN troops from Athlone and Mullingar stationed in Lebanon last week.

It would appear at this stage just three weeks before the Presidential election, that this race is anyones. (Well bar Dana's!).

Mayo athlete Paul Kavanagh was one of the 30 members of team Ireland who competed at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens and who were celebrated at a special reception hosted by President Mary McAleese and Dr Martin McAleese on Wednesday.

We are now entering the business end of this presidential election.

The lakeside village of Oughterard is facing a human tragedy this week. The death of local publican John Kenny has understandably hit the town of some 1,500 people hard - a peaceful village traditionally associated with fishing and tourism.

Presidential candidates “experience and competence”, and “ability to represent Ireland at home and abroad”, not personality politics or scandalous stories of their past, will determine who will become Uachtarán na hÉireann.

It would have been hard to live anywhere in Ireland this past week and not know that the National Ploughing Championships were taking place in Athy, Co Kildare. Several radio stations even moved their entire broadcasting base to Athy for the three days. Going to the ploughing is a bit like going to the oyster festival for many people, ie, the main attraction is no longer the centre of attention. Many people I met there this week had absolutely no intention of looking at any ploughing; most were there for a ‘day out’ with no agenda.

Speaking after the Sinn Féin Ard Chomhairle meeting in Dublin, Councillor Thérèse Ruane welcomed the ratification of Martin McGuinness to contest the presidential election.

With only five weeks until voting, and less than a week before nominations close, the Irish Presidential election is beginning to ignite. Many twists and turns have already occurred, but is this merry-go-round of hopefuls doing justice to the position that our President should hold?