Voters preferred honesty to bluster

IT’S almost 40 years since Michael D Higgins became a member of the Oireachtas.

He was appointed to the 13th Seanad by then taoiseach Liam Cosgrave in 1973 and began a national political career that culminated when he was elected the ninth President of Ireland yesterday.

His depth of experience has helped him pass an historic milestone. He is the first person who served in the Seanad and Dáil and went on to be elected President. None of the other candidates had a comparable political record and the fact that Mr Higgins had declared his presidential ambitions long before any of his polling-day rivals ultimately proved to be a significant advantage.