Gareth has a go at the Áras

There was an excellent article in the Irish Times  by Kathy Sheridan. It was about 35 Gareth Sheridan ( no relation, I assume) who has declared himself as a potential candidate seeking nomination support from local councils. Ms Sheridan asks the very reasonable question : why would a young guy who’s already a tech millionaire and is probably on his way to the billionaire arena – why would he want to ‘entomb’ (Kathy’s word) himself in Áras an Uachtaráin for seven years? Presumably, like Elon Musk, he must find his hands full running his business without  the distraction of  a half-political post?   

Well, it seems like he has a book to flog – From No  to Nasdaq is a biography of the Terenure lad who is now worth  $80 million.  Being a presidential candidate is one sure road to becoming known to the Irish people  and publicizing his book. Other than that I’d say he has nothing. to offer beyond platitudes. And did I mention that the near-as-dammit President last time out, Sean Gallagher, was working for the Sheridan lad until fairly recently? 

 There’s no deposit required to run for president, and if you get a reasonable number of votes you’ll  get €250,000 to cheer you up as you lick your wounds.   I have an idea: if a chancer like young Sheridan is allowed to run and doesn’t t ge elected, he should be put in the stocks and the public supplied with bags of rotten tomatoes and urged to do the right thing. 

 By the way, the stylish but right-wing Mairead McGuinness is well ahead of the pack in latest polls.  You wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Or both.