THE MOST DANGEROUS RACE EVER
ONE of the most intriguing features of the Presidency is that, despite the benign nature of the job, it has chewed up and spat out an astonishing number of saints and political wideboys.
It is an indication of the astuteness of Michael D Higgins that he managed to avoid that fate – and it’s something the Government whisperers condemning him might do well to note.
A SELECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL VICTIMS BRIAN LENIHAN SR
The phone calls in the night affair turned the country’s loveable rascal into a haunted figure, betrayed even by his closest friend, Charlie Haughey.
ADI ROCHE
Seen as the perfect Labour successor to Mary Robinson, she was abandoned by Labour snobs after she said she felt in her waters she could win.
MARY DAVIS
The Special Olympics heroine suffered a similar fate to Adi Roche in the 2011 presidential campaign.
GAY MITCHELL
Veteran TD Gay Mitchell had never lost an election until the presidential race in 2011, when he was Fine Gael’s candidate. And he never ran in another election after that debacle.
DAVID NORRIS
Having entered the campaign as a media darling, he floundered, left, re-entered, combusted.
SEAN GALLAGHER
The presidential Devon Loch fell within yards of the fence. He has resembled a political Miss Havisham ever since.
MARTIN McGUINNESS
The conquering Northern hero couldn’t get back over the border fast enough after too much impertinent questioning.
LIADH NÍ RIADA
The prototype of the new Sinn Féin ended up polling like the old Sinn Féin.
GAVIN DUFFY
He might have come out looking a million dollars, but the businessman and Dragon’s Den regular ended up looking like a feather duster.