THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IS THIS FRIDAY – ALONG

WHILE it’s not too long ago that the Irish public filed into polling stations to place their tick in a box on a referendum issue, it almost feels like a lifetime ago that we last voted for who should take the hot seat at Áras an Uachtaráin as President.

Initially, there didn’t seem to be too many takers to go up against the current head of state Michael D Higgins, who has been unanimously praised for how he has carried himself during his term. However, among the issues facing President Higgins this time around are the fact that initially he had said he’d only stay for one term, a perceived lack of clarity surrounding the cost of the presidency and finally his age at 77, meaning he would be 84 by the time his second term ends if elected. No stranger to Wicklow, the President has visited on a number of occasions attending Wicklow Gaol, Glencree, Shekina Garden, the Bray to Greystones cliff walk and opening supported temporary accommodation at ‘The Warrens’ in Wicklow town.

Somewhat bizarrely, this year sees three candidates who are familiar faces from the RTÉ Show Dragon’s Den - Sean Gallagher, Gavin Duffy and Peter Casey. Of the three, Gallagher would have to be said to be the front runner and is the bookies’ pick as Michael D’s strongest opposition. Back in 2011, the businessman seemed to be leading the race for the Áras, up until the issue of collecting money for a Fianna Fáil fundraiser was raised at a TV debate and derailed his campaign, handing victory to Higgins. This time around, Gallagher seems slightly more polished and has performed well in various debates thus far, however, it appears it will take something major to stop history repeating itself with him finishing in second place behind the incumbent President. Gallagher also has close ties to the Garden County, having moved to Enniskerry with his family in 2013, before settling in Delgany.

Gavin Duffy also came from the show and among the interrogations he has faced have been his personal politics (the fact that he once chaired a debate between Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney for some indicating that his shirt may be tinted blue) and his former role as Chairman of the Hunting Association of Ireland, something which has garnered criticism from animal rights activists.

The final Dragon in the running is businessman Peter Casey, who originally hails from Derry. Having spent a large portion of his life in the US, he has been campaigning for the voting rights of Irish emigrants, however, some have criticised him saying that having only spent a third of his life