GAA commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh has said he was never interested in contesting the presidential election.
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh last night announced that he would not be putting himself forward as a candidate but that he was honoured to be asked to run.
Speaking this morning, Mr Ó Muircheartaigh (81) said he had been approached by members of a number of political parties – which he declined to name – but that he had never considered himself a "contender".
"I never said I was interested in being a candidate in the election….but out of respect for all those who offered support I had to consider it," he said on RTÉ Morning Ireland. "I dissuaded all."
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh said that he would have had to enter politics to secure a nomination and that he was not interested in doing so. He said people from the world of sport were, for the most part, wisely kept out of political life.
Speaking about the nomination process, Mr Ó Muircheartaigh said it should be easier for people who were not political to contest the presidential election and that the length of the campaign should be shortened significantly.
He said the support for his and Gay Byrne’s candidacies did not mean there was an appetite for a non-political president but rather that people wanted all interested parties to have an opportunity to be elected.
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh said he expected more names to join the race and that broadcasters were as entitled as anybody else to contest the election. He would not be drawn on an eventual winner.
"I will take an interest in the race. I'm interested in politics but I wouldn't comment on one [candidate] beyond the other," he said.
Meanwhile, Independent candidate Seán Gallagher has said he is not seeking the endorsement of Fianna Fáil but would welcome the support of his former party.
Separately, the divided state of opinion within Fianna Fáil is being reflected in an online Facebook discussion group but the party press office said this was not an official outlet.
Another Independent candidate, Mary Davis, said in a statement that the office of the presidency could “play a real role in repairing Ireland’s reputation on the international stage”.
Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, Mr Gallagher said: “The presidency is not a trophy for a political party. The president represents everybody in the country and therefore the debate needs to move away from party politics.”
On the current deliberations in Fianna Fáil about whether to run its own candidate or support someone else in the race, he said: “As an Independent candidate, I am not seeking the endorsement of any political party. I have chosen to seek nominations from four county councils but I would certainly welcome support from all political parties and none.”
When it was put to him that, as a former member of the Fianna Fáil national executive, he would be the logical person for the party to support, he replied: “I would welcome the support of all political parties. That’s a matter for the parties and the electorate.”
Fianna Fáil strategy is being hotly debated by the “FF Facebook Discussion Group” but the party press office stressed that was not an official party web page.
A contributor called “Golden Oliver” wrote: “Eamon de Valera would be turning in his grave over Fianna Fáil not contesting an election in Ireland for the first time, I think Micheál Martin should be ashamed of himself.”
Mary Davis said the next president could “play a real role in repairing Ireland’s reputation on the international stage and encouraging the development of a more respectful, fair and equal society at home”.
Ms Davis was responding to a proposal from author and historian Tim Pat Coogan that the presidency should be abolished as a cost-saving measure.