Richard Hogan: There's more to life than the presidential race — especially for the candidates

For a political race that really has no power at the end of a potentially life-altering, chaotic pursuit, one would be wise to wonder, why bother? 

Current and former presidential candidates, Independent Catherine Connolly, Heather Humphreys of Fine Gael, and Fianna Fáil's candidate Jim Gavin at the first televised debate of the campaign on 'The Tonight Show' on Virgin Media. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The presidential campaign of 2025 is nearly over, and what have we learned? Bizarrely, an awful lot and a whole pile of nothing. I feel like one of the weird sisters offering into the Scottish mist, ‘not so happy, yet much happier’.

Well, the most glaring piece of learning from this year’s race is; one should not enter this process lightly.