DEVELOPER HARRY Crosbie said he would be prepared to help fund a presidential campaign for broadcaster Gay Byrne, who is considering seeking a nomination to run as an Independent.
Mr Byrne and his wife Kathleen Watkins entered the Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin last night for the opening of the musical Grease at the same time as Mr Crosbie.
As Mr Byrne fielded questions from reporters, Mr Crosbie approached and said: “Go Gaybo, go”.
Asked if he would help fund a campaign for Mr Byrne, Mr Crosbie said: “Yes, I would”.
Earlier this week Mr Byrne said Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin had phoned him to say Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members could facilitate his nomination as an Independent candidate.
Potential candidates require the support of 20 TDs and/or Senators or the backing of four county councils.
Mr Byrne said last night he would take another few days to think about the matter. “I am absolutely overwhelmed by the messages of goodwill and regard and love and affection and all of that from all over the country,” he said.
“I am not fooled by that for one single minute because I’ve been in the business far too long, but nonetheless it’s very, very gratifying and very satisfying and delightful.”
Earlier broadcaster Pat Kenny, also attending the theatre, said he would give his number one vote to Mr Byrne. “Of course you’d give a number one to your pal but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have to give him a very hard time on The Frontline in the dying days of the campaign,” Mr Kenny said.
“The political class hasn’t produced anyone who has caught the public imagination yet. Now maybe the political class will produce someone who could trump Gay Byrne, but for the moment I can understand why he’s the front runner,” Mr Kenny said.
Meanwhile, senior Fianna Fáil figures said the party should facilitate the candidacy from outside it ranks and praised Mr Byrne.
Carlow-Kilkenny TD John McGuinness said Mr Byrne would “make a good people’s president” and claimed no one in Fianna Fáil had made clear they wanted the job.
“There has been no upfront attack by anybody in terms of a campaign to win the presidential nomination in Fianna Fáil. There have been expressions of interest but no follow through. That’s not good enough. You have to show a bit of passion,” Mr McGuinness said.
Fianna Fáil MEP Brian Crowley has written to Oireachtas members confirming his intention to seek the party’s nomination, while former minister Éamon Ó Cuív has said the party should have a candidate and was widely believed to be interested himself.
Limerick TD Willie O’Dea said his preference would be for the party to lend support to an external candidate.
