Honorary titles anathema to Ireland

SO Bob Geldof has ruled himself out as a candidate for the presidency of Ireland (May 26).

In an interview on TV3’s The Political Party, Mr Geldof claimed he was approached by an unidentified party to stand for the presidency but declined, saying there had been two amazing women in the job, former president Mary Robinson and current incumbent Mary McAleese, who had increased the country’s standing around the world. Mr Geldof said he would be afraid he would let us down and so rejected the offer. He made the correct decision.

Over the years Mr Geldof has received many well deserved awards for his role in alleviating poverty, famine and genocide, especially in the third world, and twice (2006 and 2008) he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.