A Presidential hopeful has branded Clare County Council’s selection process as anti-democratic.
It’s after the local authority chose not to nominate a candidate at a special meeting yesterday.
It took the best part of two hours for the five prospective Presidential candidates to make their pitch to Clare’s elected representatives and after a brief deliberation, none were put forward.
Galway based Gaeilgeoir and former Council of the West member Diarmaid Mulcahy was the only candidate to remain in the chamber to hear all other presentations, he believes the President is far from just a “ceremonial role”.
Former Local, General and Limerick Mayor Election Candidate Gerben Uunk came into the chamber with momentum after being proposed by the Treaty’s Social Democrats earlier that day, however this route also fell through.
The Leader of the Party for Animal Welfare also felt Clare County Council’s decision not to propose any candidate was undemocratic.
The special meeting wasn’t without its fireworks with multiple councillors clashing with anti-immigration activist and self described staunch Trump Superfan Sarah-Louise Mulligan.
Unverified allegations of increased migrant crime and favourable social housing allocations drew particular criticism from Shannon Banks Sinn Féin Councillor James Ryan.
Mayor of Ennis Mary Howard who’s also a member of the Clare Local Area Network branded Mulligan’s comments as a disservice to Irish women.
Mulligan who’s also a graduate of DCU and trained Acupuncturist rejected the councillors claims and she believes the Presidential Election Process is rigged against Independent candidates.
You can listen to the full report below.
