The Áras race showed the mettle required by politics

ALLEGED murder plots and Israeli conspiracy theories. Allegations of sexual abuse. Awkward discussions about paedophilia and pederasty. A candidate accused of being a “bagman” and a political ambush on live television.

A remarkable — and at times bizarre — presidential election is now done and dusted, and Michael D Higgins will succeed Mary McAleese on Friday. The results of the race have already been heavily parsed and analysed. But a couple of lingering notes remain, for what they’re worth.

Firstly, David Norris showed admirable courage in re-entering the race. The Independent Senator had pulled out of the contest in early August amid the controversy over clemency letters written for a former partner, only to decide some six weeks later that it was still worth a shot. A lot has been said and written about that decision, most of it suggesting Mr Norris was foolish, even delusional, and had let his ego get the better of him.