Mick Clifford: Who will be Ireland’s next president? The potential candidates so far

Ireland’s presidential race is soon to begin gathering pace, with major names emerging as potential candidates. Who will take on the challenge of Áras an Uachtaráin?

Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Would Micheál Martin be comfortable with dusty tribunal skeletons being hauled through every town and village during a preseidential campaign?

And how’re you fixed? Roll up, roll up, if you have anything at all in your locker that might make a good president, now’s the time to put in a spake or forever hold your whist. The names are beginning to come thick and fast for the race scheduled to occur in October. 

This week there were two biggies. Michael McDowell is being whispered as a possible candidate from a joint FF/FG bid. Alternatively, he could emerge as a rallying cry for those looking for somebody on the right. That’s the Irish right, which is about 2cm away from the centre-left. He would certainly promise a lively campaign.