Conor McGregor, Michael Flatley and Mary Kenny have all pondered going for the top job
Support for the monarchy is lower among younger people today. Some 65 per cent of the 18-24 age group say they would abolish the monarchy, and choose instead an elected head of state. Perhaps British advocates for a president should watch, as a case study, the election this autumn of a new Irish President. Anyone over 35 with an Irish passport, who can secure backing from four county councils (or 20 parliamentarians), can run for president. I even thought of doing so myself once – not from political ambition, but because I thought it would be amusing to call myself ‘Mary the Third’, following Presidents Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. Michael D Higgins, 84, has been First Citizen for the last 14 years, and my only connection with the office is that long, long ago, I made his match. I introduced him to his very sweet wife, Sabina, at a...
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