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Presidential material: 8 other sports personalities who could run for the Áras

After Eamon Dunphy and Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh were linked with the position, we take a look at some other possible candidates.

17/08/11 1,033 Views 6 Comments

FOLLOWING RECENT NEWS linking both Eamon Dunphy and Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh to bids for the Irish presidency, the idea of sports personalities spending a few years in the Oireachtas currently appears to be in vogue.

With that in mind, we’ve come up with eight other people for newspapers to ring up and randomly ask if they’re going for the job…

Presidential material: 8 other sports personalities who could run for the Áras
1 / 8

  • Pat Spillane

    Like Dunphy and Ó Muircheartaigh, Spillane also lists being associated with both RTÉ and sport among his credentials. And like most Sunday Game analysts, he has a penchant for upsetting people with his controversial views. However, his steely nature would ensure there was minimal chance of Ireland getting bullied by those dastardly foreign diplomats.

  • John Giles

    If Ó Muircheartaigh, Spillane and Dunphy all say no, then why not try everyone's fourth favourite RTÉ Sport journalist. Giles would be a popular choice with his tendency to explain complex issues in simple terms and his ability to take each presidential challenge on its merits.

  • Roy Keane

    Keane would not be the most diplomatic president we've ever had, but his ruthlessness in doing whatever it takes to get to the top, his strong work ethic and his hatred of Jason McAteer are all appealing qualities.

  • George Hook

    Rumours that George Hook has fallen in love with the idea of running for the presidency have yet to be confirmed. If he did go for it though, the Irish public would at the very least hope his political skills are more impressive than his rugby-playing ability (or lack thereof) back in the day.

  • John Hayes

    Who cares about his lack of political experience? The man is a legend, with a heart of gold to boot.

  • Darren Clarke

    Clarke is probably more loved and respected than the current crop of candidates, and the fact that he is held in high esteem internationally would be another major advantage.

  • Anthony Daly

    Daly may not be as high profile as some of the other candidates, but if he can make a success out of the Dublin hurlers, he can do anything.

  • Joey Barton

    Admittedly Joey Barton isn't over 35 or, if we're being pedantic, Irish, however there is some merit to his prospective candidacy. He has shown astute political knowledge in recent times (sample tweet: "What example do we set? Get a job, work hard in life or we'll give u benefits to sit in and play xbox all day") and besides, he has been worryingly quiet in the past day or two - the newspapers need to fill their daily Joey Barton quota somehow.
  • Like Dunphy and Ó Muircheartaigh, Spillane also lists being associated with both RTÉ and sport among his credentials. And like most Sunday Game analysts, he has a penchant for upsetting people with his controversial views. However, his steely nature would ensure there was minimal chance of Ireland getting bullied by those dastardly foreign diplomats.
  • If Ó Muircheartaigh, Spillane and Dunphy all say no, then why not try everyone's fourth favourite RTÉ Sport journalist. Giles would be a popular choice with his tendency to explain complex issues in simple terms and his ability to take each presidential challenge on its merits.
  • Keane would not be the most diplomatic president we've ever had, but his ruthlessness in doing whatever it takes to get to the top, his strong work ethic and his hatred of Jason McAteer are all appealing qualities.
  • Rumours that George Hook has fallen in love with the idea of running for the presidency have yet to be confirmed. If he did go for it though, the Irish public would at the very least hope his political skills are more impressive than his rugby-playing ability (or lack thereof) back in the day.
  • Who cares about his lack of political experience? The man is a legend, with a heart of gold to boot.
  • Clarke is probably more loved and respected than the current crop of candidates, and the fact that he is held in high esteem internationally would be another major advantage.
  • Daly may not be as high profile as some of the other candidates, but if he can make a success out of the Dublin hurlers, he can do anything.
  • Admittedly Joey Barton isn't over 35 or, if we're being pedantic, Irish, however there is some merit to his prospective candidacy. He has shown astute political knowledge in recent times (sample tweet:

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Paul Fennessy
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