There is likely to be a presidential election in Ireland later this year, as President Michael D Higgins’s term comes to an end.
In theory, any Irish citizen over the age of 35 can become the head of state, but in practice, a candidate has to have the support of a major political party. And it has been reliably reported that the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil – founded by Éamon de Valera – is considering putting up a remarkable mother of eight children for the position.
Miriam O’Callaghan is a national celebrity, being an intelligent yet glamorous prime-time television and radio presenter. She is tall, blonde, athletic and good-tempered, as well as having four daughters and four sons, aged from nine to 29.
I should, perhaps, declare an interest here and admit that I have been interviewed on radio by Miriam, and have been won over by her combination of brains, competence and people skills.
She is widely liked throughout the country, and I believe she would bring a high profile to Ireland on the global stage.
I also think that she’d be a terrific advertisement for women as mothers. We need to be able to affirm that women can have what is considered to be a large family these days – and still fulfil their intellectual and professional potential.
On the world stage, I can think of only one female politician who is a mother of a large family – the German minister of defence, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, who has seven children.
True, Miriam, 57, has been married twice. She had four daughters with her first husband, journalist Tom McGurk, and four sons with her second husband, television executive Steve Carson. She was raised a Catholic and has not disavowed her faith background. Mr Carson, her second husband, is a Belfast Protestant and she says that’s made her very ecumenical. Considering the delicate relations with Northern Ireland these days, an ecumenical attitude is surely all to the good.
It’s not yet certain that a presidential election will take place, since President Higgins could, in theory, run for another seven years – though he will be 77 this year, and a second term would take him well into his eighties.
There are other candidates mentioned – one prominent name is that of an experienced politician sitting for Galway West, 67-year-old Éamon Ó Cuív. Mr Ó Cuív is the grandson of Éamon de Valera, the most dominant Irish politician of the 20th century, and thus represents a different form of dynastic power.
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New words continually come into usage and mostly they’re a helpful addition to our vocabulary. But I rather dislike the way the verb “grab” has gained such currency in recent times. Food adverts encourage us to “grab” a sandwich, instead of alternatives such as “get”, “buy”, or “eat”. We’re told to “grab” everything from an opportunity to our coats before leaving.
“Grabbing” was once seen as ill-mannered – children were told “take politely, don’t grab” – and there’s a rough image that goes with “grab”, as in “smash and grab” burglaries.
I suppose the popularity of “grab” is all to do with the rapidity and lack of finesse that a grabbed meal, say, conjures up. This is regrettable – and bad for the digestion too!
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“Who is your favourite Beatle?” was the usual question. And whether you chose John (bright, but a smart alec), Paul (sweet-looking choir boy), George (thoughtful, mystical) or Ringo (the Scouse jokester), this was a clue to your character.
Paul McCartney was surely the most gifted musician – Yesterday has a universal resonance – while it was said of Ringo Starr that he wasn’t the best drummer in the world – or even, as John once joked when Ringo went Awol, the best drummer in the Beatles.
For that very reason, it’s somehow rewarding that Ringo was at last knighted in the New Year’s Honour’s list. For if he wasn’t the most musically gifted Beatle, it transpires that he was the one who kept them together, mended fences, generated an esprit de corps and cheered them all up, and in this, he was an essential part of the iconic group.
Everyone brings something to the table. Gifts aren’t always the obvious ones.
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