Potential contest between Michael Flatley and Conor McGregor in Irish presidential election
The Irish presidential race for October is shaping up to be an interesting one, with a mix of familiar faces and unexpected contenders vying for the position.
In the running are Michael Flatley, the Riverdance star, and Conor McGregor, the former UFC champion turned boxer. Flatley hinted at his presidential bid last week in a radio interview, and he recently notified the court of a "material change in circumstances" - that he is moving back to Ireland to run in its presidential elections.
Flatley has expressed concerns about the Irish people not having a "true proper deep voice that speaks their language." However, it remains unclear whether he will have sufficient support for the presidential bid.
On the other hand, Conor McGregor, known for his outspoken and controversial nature, declared his intention to run for president in March this year. McGregor has reinvented himself as an anti-immigrant populist, and his comments about Ireland leaving the EU have caused controversy. Recently, it was announced that McGregor withdrew his candidacy due to lack of required nominations from parliament members or local authorities.
Two candidates have secured sufficient backing to enter the race: Catherine Connolly and Mairead McGuinness. Catherine Connolly is a Left-wing independent and former Galway mayor, with backing from opposition parties and independents. Connolly has been a vocal critic of various issues, including housing and climate change.
Mairead McGuinness, the Fine Gael nominee, is a former farming journalist, EU commissioner, and deputy speaker of the European Parliament. McGuinness is an outspoken critic of Brexit and made headlines for cutting off Nigel Farage in his final speech as an MEP before Brexit.
The presidential election must take place within 60 days before outgoing President Michael D Higgins's term ends on Nov 11. Higgins, a Left-wing politician and a poet, has served as president since 2011.
There are also rumours of Gerry Adams, the former Sinn Féin leader, joining the presidential race. Adams won £84,000 in a Dublin court after being accused of sanctioning the murder of a British agent.
Barry McGuigan, a Catholic Ulsterman with a Protestant wife who did much to unite communities in Northern Ireland, is also mooted as a possible presidential candidate in Ireland.
As the race heats up, it will be interesting to see who the Irish people choose to lead their country in the coming years.
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