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Replying To tireoghainabu:  "it's a pity the Brits weren't as concerned for the minority religion in the six counties, instead they oversea an electoral system which at it's core was a one party majority system for ever more."
Agreed. I don't know enough about that period of history in NI to make much comment other than to say, or ask, did Carson and his ilk not break from whatever "arrangements" were envisaged for the 6 counties and unilaterally made up their own rules - with no sanction from London ?

Freethinker (Wicklow) - Posts: 1855 - 08/09/2025 19:09:07    2635383

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Replying To supersub15:  "Is it absolutely nessary to use the PR system especially in this instance to elect our new President in particular when their is only a small hand full of candidates, first home is a fairer option in this case.

In my opinion we don't need a President simply because our Tainste is more than capable of filling the roll and carrying out the duties of President."
Who would people rather see win today; Jim Gavin or Billy Kelleher?

Gearoid1998ffowaed (Galway) - Posts: 186 - 09/09/2025 08:42:14    2635420

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "Who would people rather see win today; Jim Gavin or Billy Kelleher?"
Solid long-term FF member vs parachuted in celebrity.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 111 - 09/09/2025 10:45:16    2635428

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "Who would people rather see win today; Jim Gavin or Billy Kelleher?"
The selection of the preferred candidate between Jim Gavin and Billy Kelleher will be done more so on principle than preferred choice.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3268 - 09/09/2025 10:53:49    2635430

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Replying To Seanfan:  "Solid long-term FF member vs parachuted in celebrity."
Jim Gavin has a better chance than Kelleher. Parachuted in or not.

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8513 - 09/09/2025 11:33:25    2635436

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Hope Kelleher gets it just to see what happens with Martin and ff..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2596 - 09/09/2025 11:50:31    2635437

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "Who would people rather see win today; Jim Gavin or Billy Kelleher?"
Neither, don't much about Billy Kelleher and I think Jim Gavin could probably do a better job in the Dail than as President. In saying that, the Fianna Fail leadership is weak and probably don't want any strong contenders in the Dail.

Commodore (Donegal) - Posts: 1468 - 09/09/2025 12:56:38    2635447

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Replying To Gearoid1998ffowaed:  "Nobody is suggesting a "loveable rouge", there is nobody as qualified for the role as Bertie Ahern.
For the last 17 years since he life office, he's been working in an organised called Rethinking Conflict, a demographic political initiative dealing with the curds in Turkey.
He worked alongside Kofi Anan on a peaceful resolution to the conflict involving ETA in the Basque Country.
In October 2018, Bertie Ahern was appointed by the European Union as Chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission (BRC). The EU praised his appointment as a significant milestone in the peace process and a vital gesture of international support.
Since March 2016, Ahern was been the Co-Chair of The Interaction Council, which brings together around forty former world leaders to tackle critical global issues.
In 2025, Bertie has recently been appointed as a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), an esteemed global institution bringing together thinkers and public figures from across disciplines. This fellowship recognizes Ahern's substantial contributions to global governance, peacebuilding, and ethical leadership.
More recently, in August 2025, Ahern participated in the Conference of Ambassadors, Consuls General, Consuls and Military Attachés in Croatia.
On top of all that, he's dedicated his life to public service.
Whether people voteed or not for him, he would have absolutely swept the floor in the presidential debates."
Busy man sitting on all those boards. Free of charge as well......

TheFlaker (Mayo) - Posts: 8513 - 09/09/2025 13:01:35    2635449

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Women voting for HH might swing it for her.
Realistic Indp voters might swing it for CC.
Fianna Fail voters might swing swing it for BK
Non party voters have their work cut out to swing for JG./MM

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3268 - 09/09/2025 13:45:03    2635454

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Replying To TheFlaker:  "Busy man sitting on all those boards. Free of charge as well......"
The gravy train keeps on rolling sure

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 17046 - 09/09/2025 14:17:07    2635461

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Replying To supersub15:  "Women voting for HH might swing it for her.
Realistic Indp voters might swing it for CC.
Fianna Fail voters might swing swing it for BK
Non party voters have their work cut out to swing for JG./MM"
Men voting might swing it for JG.
GAA supports might swing it for JG.
Dublin voters might swing it for JG.

In reality, people will hear from the selected candidates over the next few weeks and will have a chance to make their minds up.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2526 - 09/09/2025 14:33:38    2635466

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "You're not wrong, but what's the level of our international peers? Are Hungary way ahead of us by that metric? I think not. There's no reason we can't finish second in this group, after which we'd have to get two wins which depends entirely on the luck of the draw. If you get the likes of Lithuania, Estonia, Bosnia etc. It's doable.

If you can't be optimistic before qualifying even starts that's pretty bleak.

Personally I think we've seen steady improvement in the last year."
Doylerwex, what do you think now? 2 international class players and 9 duds....I can't imagine you'll disagree with me! When I saw the St Mirren player coming on, I thought to myself, that's certainly no better than League of Ireland level.

PoolSturgeon (Galway) - Posts: 2077 - 09/09/2025 21:20:13    2635508

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The big change I see is that England is locking up it's talent these days. 40 or 50years ago, the likes of Grealish and Rice would have wound up in the Ireland side. In the 70s and 80s and 90s, you had the farcical scenario that England eligible players were playing for Ireland, even though some of them were superior to the players winning England caps at the time. The likes of Lawrenson, Sheedy, Townsend and many more.

Whatever about a goalie, a backline and front line, this current Ireland international squad has NO international class midfielders, which imo is why we struggle in almost every game these days.

Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 4407 - 09/09/2025 21:47:50    2635512

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Replying To WanPintWin:  "Men voting might swing it for JG.
GAA supports might swing it for JG.
Dublin voters might swing it for JG.

In reality, people will hear from the selected candidates over the next few weeks and will have a chance to make their minds up."
They are going to get rude awakening if they think Dublin GAA people never mind the half of population not even Dubs or Irish will vote for him.

BarneyGrant (Dublin) - Posts: 3698 - 09/09/2025 22:03:08    2635514

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "They are going to get rude awakening if they think Dublin GAA people never mind the half of population not even Dubs or Irish will vote for him."
Heather Humphreys most likely winner.
She's Mrs everyone.
Also be no harm in these days of talk of border polls to have an Ulster Scot in th'Áras.

Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 111 - 10/09/2025 00:36:33    2635518

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It could back fire very badly as a lot of die yards won't like the idea of a parachute politician..I want to see him questioned like a few others in recent weeks..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2596 - 10/09/2025 00:58:46    2635519

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Replying To BarneyGrant:  "They are going to get rude awakening if they think Dublin GAA people never mind the half of population not even Dubs or Irish will vote for him."
I was being facetious in response to the other post, which was over-simplifying it. My point is it'll come down to personal preference at the end of the day.

WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2526 - 10/09/2025 08:02:59    2635522

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Replying To PoolSturgeon:  "Doylerwex, what do you think now? 2 international class players and 9 duds....I can't imagine you'll disagree with me! When I saw the St Mirren player coming on, I thought to myself, that's certainly no better than League of Ireland level."
I didn't expect that to be honest... Last night was incredibly poor.

Thought we were better than hungry overall to be honest but that was shocking.

The only bit of optimism I can find now is in the 2016 campaign we got only a point out of Scotland and thought it was over, then went and beat Germany.

Hope springs eternal

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3919 - 10/09/2025 08:29:57    2635523

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Replying To Pope_Benedict:  "The big change I see is that England is locking up it's talent these days. 40 or 50years ago, the likes of Grealish and Rice would have wound up in the Ireland side. In the 70s and 80s and 90s, you had the farcical scenario that England eligible players were playing for Ireland, even though some of them were superior to the players winning England caps at the time. The likes of Lawrenson, Sheedy, Townsend and many more.

Whatever about a goalie, a backline and front line, this current Ireland international squad has NO international class midfielders, which imo is why we struggle in almost every game these days."
The best players we've produced have always been our own.

Giles, Brady, McGrath, Keanes, duff, o shea, Coleman etc.

Doylerwex (Wexford) - Posts: 3919 - 10/09/2025 08:31:17    2635524

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Replying To Doylerwex:  "I didn't expect that to be honest... Last night was incredibly poor.

Thought we were better than hungry overall to be honest but that was shocking.

The only bit of optimism I can find now is in the 2016 campaign we got only a point out of Scotland and thought it was over, then went and beat Germany.

Hope springs eternal"
We had more possession than Hungary when they went down to 10 men and wasted nearly all of it. Hungary defence delighted to see. predictably. one high ball after the next launched on top of them. We look bereft of confidence.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 8243 - 10/09/2025 08:49:58    2635528

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