Another one bites the dust

By Meghann Scully

One facebook user said “I was going to give him (Sean Gallagher) my number 1 but after that (The frontline) he’ll be lucky to get a seven”.

  

Adland Ireland



A game of bully boy tactics proved decisive in this year’s presidential campaign. Micheal D Higgins received one million votes to win the seat. The final week of the campaign saw favourite Sean Gallagher take a crucial plunge in support. The contest that seemed like a close call turned out to be a one man race. This led to a boring atmosphere in count centres across the country.

On ‘The Frontline’ the Monday before the election which was the final debate, Martin Mc Guinness launched an attack on Mr. Gallagher. He accused him of accepting cheques worth up to five thousand euro for Fianna Fáil. Sean Gallagher was unable to answer the accusations made and said “from my recollection I cannot remember ever getting a cheque”. The vague answer placed doubt in the minds of all the voters on the last few days of the campaign.

Martin Mc Guinness accused Sean Gallagher of his involvement in a Fianna Fáil fundraiser. The following day Mr. Gallagher said how he did not take cheques for the then Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his Fianna Fáil party. The businessman who was the source of this allegation later admitted that it was not Sean Gallagher that invited him to the event but former TD Seamus Kirk.

The fundraiser took place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in 2008. A further allegation made was that Mr. Gallagher gave a picture of businessman Hugh Morgan along with Taoiseach Brian Cowen as a thank you to Mr. Morgan. It was made known after the election that no such picture was in existence according to Mr. Gallagher.

Sean Gallagher believes he became a target for Sinn Féins ‘dirty tricks’. Seeing as he was the favourite it seems he was in the firing line. He stood in the way of Martin Mc Guinness, who according to opinion polls was in third place, to become president of Ireland. Sean Gallagher highlighted on numerous occasions the need for a positive campaign but saw this request slashed by Mr. Mc Guinness.



The allegations of these cheques and Sean Gallagher’s uncertainty saw his odds with the bookies drop dramatically. Before Monday night’s debate he had 40 percent of the support across the country. The following day Micheal D. Higgins had 41 percent of the support. Sean Gallagher held second position despite Martin Ms Guinness’ efforts.

The social networking site Facebook became a place of criticism and praise after Monday’s debates and the subsequent figures that followed. Sean Gallagher was said to be “a crook”, “a fraud” and “a gangster”. One facebook user said “I was going to give him (Sean Gallagher) my number 1 but after that (The frontline) he’ll be lucky to get a seven”. On the other hand the interest in Galway man and Irish speaker Micheal D grew significantly. “Micheal D for president” was reiterated by a number of users leading up to polling day. 

On the 27^th of October at 7am polling stations opened. National schools in Ireland were cleared of children and teachers and vacated by voters. According to news reports the day was slow. The lack of voters in Labane National School was evident as only 50 percent of voters placed their vote. The day lacked the atmosphere that reflected that of a general or local election day. The usual supporters weren’t waiting at the school gates and chat among the folk was minimal.

At 10pm the polling stations closed with a record low in voters having cast a vote for the ninth president of Ireland. At 9am the following day the counting began in count centres across the country. By 11am the tally men noted that Micheal D Higgins had it won. By midday, in the Salthill count centre the atmosphere matched that of polling day, quiet and unexciting. Outside the count centre only half a dozen political figures gathered. The talk was of no great expectations. The hall consisted of counters, tally men, the media and very few spectators. A quiet hum was heard through the hall. There was no desire to stay and wait in the hope of a surge of votes that would see another candidate jeopardise Micheal D’s chances. There was no doubt that he had it won.

In comparison to the general election day, the presidential campaign lacked atmosphere and competition. There were no demands for recounts or political figures shouting. Due to the events during the week it became a one man race. The people came out in few numbers and elected Micheal D Higgins as the ninth President of Ireland. He will now reside in Áras an Uachtarán for the next seven years.