Nick Delehanty has 30,000 followers on X and has raised €23,000 so far in an online fundraiser for his campaign for President of Ireland. But like everyone else who’s not running with the backing of a major political party – or a combination of smaller parties – he faces what seems like almost insurmountable obstacles in even getting on the ballot paper.
The return to closed-shop Presidential elections – plus the apparently irreversible trend to have the Presidency used as a partisan political soap box (more of that this week from Michael D) – makes the office seem less and less attractive and fit for purpose as this pointless campaign wears on.