Sir, – Gay Byrne (Front Page, August 11th) says that Ireland is being “run by mad people in Brussels”.
At a time when I was beginning to despair that our presidency was about to become a retirement home for time-expired europhilic sycophants, enter a man of clear vision who tells us that the emperor has no clothes.
Rock on, Uncle Gaybo! Your people are with you. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – While taking comfort in the knowledge that, if he were to become our president, Gay Byrne would have to try to put a bridle on his tongue and hew to Government policy, he has nonetheless given us a profoundly damaging glimpse of what he thinks about our membership of the euro and of the European Union.
Uninvolved though he may be in the serious business of public life, can he really be unaware that among the “mad” European leaders he rants about are to be numbered the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance, and their predecessors, mainly Fianna Fáil, since 1973? Or that the leaking bark of the Irish economy is still afloat solely thanks to the bailing of our friends? For a “non-political” statement, Mr Byrne’s outburst must rank among the most political uttered in recent times. It was made in a frivolous context, but I trust it will have been noted in the chancelleries of Europe. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I agree with much of Fintan O’Toole’s article on Gay Byrne (Opinion, August 12th). However, as usual, Mr O’Toole annoys me.
In particular, his characterisation of Mr Byrne as “a bog standard, unreflective and instinctive right-winger” serves as a perfect self-description for Mr O’Toole, if he replaces the word “right” with “left”. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – It appears that Gay Byrne will be putting his name forward for consideration by the electorate in the forthcoming presidential election. If the people are being asked to support a long- standing star of Irish light entertainment, we should also be allowed to consider the merits of that other venerable star of stage and television, Dustin the Turkey.
If the criteria for presidential office is a once high media profile, Dustin, with his own brand of wit and wisdom, on TV and radio,plus his experience in Europe, as our representative in the song contest, will make him an ideal candidate. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The opportunity remains for the return of David Norris as candidate for the presidency of Ireland. I am certain it is plain to all that he remains the one person available with the dignity and presence to be president for all the people. Furthermore he stands above party politics.
Surely someone can make a start organising his nomination? – Yours, etc,
Sir, – “Byrne tops poll for presidency” (August 11th) seemed a strange choice of heading for an article which detailed quite a different result in the Red C poll.
First preference voting intentions showed Byrne at 28 per cent. However, an astonishing result of 40 per cent of first preference votes would be achieved by Norris, were he running. Since neither is currently officially in the race, would not a more accurate headline have read, “Norris continues to top poll for presidency”?
It seems clear that the humanity and dignity of Senator Norris have struck a chord with the public. Perhaps we have reflected, and looking into our hearts have decided to tell the truth about ourselves, concluding that Senator Norris as president would best represent what we have seen.
I am reminded of the lines of Leonard Cohen in Anthem: “Ring the bells that still can ring, Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything – that’s how the light gets in.” – Yours, etc,
A chara, – With all due respect to John A Waters’s suggestion that Dr Ed Walsh, founding president of the University of Limerick, be canvassed on his willingness to allow his name to be put forward as a presidential candidate (August 11th), he seems to miss the point that the attraction of Gaybo for president is a joke candidate for a joke job. We don’t need and cannot afford a titular head-of-state. – Is mise,
Sir, – The dignity of the office of the president deserves better than the puerile and simplistic statement that our country is being “run by mad people in Brussels”. Gay Byrne should stick to broadcasting, which he is good at. He is clearly not qualified to be elected to an office where he would have to police his mouth. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – The Irish people are seeking an independent non-political presidential candidate. An obvious candidate is journalist and broadcaster Olivia O’Leary. Besides being more than able to fulfil the constitutional and representative roles of the presidency she has an understanding of what divides and what unites us, could articulate our national ideals, provoke our thinking and make us proud. She is also unlikely to call those providing the finance to keep the State afloat, “mad people” as one potential candidate has done. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – If we were to have a Gay Byrne presidential campaign backed by Fianna Fáil, would that be a case of Fianna Fáil fiddling while Byrne roams? (cf Keats and Chapman of Myles na gCopaleen). – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Gabe Hannon is wrong in his criticism of Gay Byrne when he states, “Ireland in desperation is turning to a retired entertainer from another era, who does not stand for anything or if he does then I and many others are not aware of it”.
During the dark days of the 1960s, 1970s 1980s and indeed the 1990s, Mr Byrne through his media shows, took on both state and church when others feared to go there. The assumption by Gabe Hannon that we get the governance we deserve is also misplaced. Perhaps he should consider Victor Hugo “Knowing exactly how much of the future can be introduced into the present is the secret of great governance”. Mr Byrne, through his media past, has already achieved this. Perhaps if elected he will do it again. – Yours etc,
Sir, – The presidency is above politics, not merely above party politics. Gay Byrne’s avowed independence from party politics is laudable but of minor relevance. His rant against the EU is political at a higher level. It renders him totally unfit for purpose and disqualifies him from standing for our nation’s highest and most honourable office. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Now that the election to the highest office in the State has been reduced to depths of banality with “stars” of television, reality and otherwise, taking centre stage, perhaps we should cancel the election.
Then, with the kind permission of the organising committee of the forthcoming Rose of Tralee incorporate the selection of our president into the forthcoming competition. I am certain that the rules could be bent to allow for the odd male contestant, Gay or not, to enter. – Yours, etc,