Madam, – Political office-holders the world over are suffering badly by comparison with Barack Obama – and none more so than the Irish crop. But we do have non-party inspirational figures in Ireland, people whose ascent to the presidency would lift our spirits in the dark times ahead. I’m thinking of people such as Brendan Kennelly, John A. Murphy, Fr Peter McVerry, John Lonergan, etc. – Yours, etc,