“Familiar Faces’ Reception in Politics”

Luke “Ming” Flanagan was the first to express displeasure, mentioning his competition with two former RTÉ celebrities on Twitter. A sarcastic retort from a commentator followed, which was quickly succeeded by another ex-RTÉ personality, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, joining the fray. However, Ní Mhurchú is contesting in a separate constituency, a relief for Flanagan.

Others voiced concerns about celebrities being prioritised in politics. Bertie Ahern, the former Prime Minister, was bewildered by this trend, expressing fears about it. Fianna Fáil nominee Niall Blaney touched upon the crucial choice between celebrity personalities or knowledgeable politicos in Brussels. “We ought to be represented by serious politicians, like my associate Senator Pauline O’Reilly, rather than celebrities,” added mayoral contender Brian Leddin for the Green Party in Limerick.

The Fine Gael party remained silent on the issue, perhaps because their gamble on celebrities has yielded inconsistent results in the past. Former Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, was a successful celebrity candidate, while George Lee, a former RTÉ economics correspondent, quit nine months after winning a byelection landslide due to his lack of influence.

The celebrity presence in politics is seemingly effortless, with Nina Carberry being a prime example. Recognised for her success as a pioneering jockey and her charisma on both Dancing with the Stars and Ireland’s Fittest Family, Carberry lacks the front-line aggression of Mullooly and Ní Mhurchú. This perception was likely reinforced by Fine Gael’s hesitation to expose her to uncharted campaign boundaries, along with their tendency to shield her when she steps out of her norm.

After extended discussions, Simon Harris displays an impressive skill in effortlessly connecting with citizens, ranging from eager schoolchildren to the elderly in vehicles, while simultaneously maintaining to swiftly move from one place to another, albeit politely. Without question, Harris displays an unwavering ability to seize the attention of everyone around him, leaving the usually reticent Carberry hurriedly trying to stay in step.

However, one should have witnessed her interaction with the public during the two-day event at the Punchestown races, according to an observer from her entourage. Is there any horseracing aficionado who could resist an introduction to a celebrated Irish Grand National victor?

During a quick ten-minute exchange, she admits that her association with Fine Gael was driven by her friendly relations within the party, specifically with Damien English, the Meath MP. She believed it was her moment to act selflessly and make use of her recognisability for a noble purpose. Carberry’s primary focus is on people – embracing them, understanding their concerns, especially those pertaining to businesses and farmers. She acknowledges the criticism received by farmers regarding climate concerns, and her fears associated with the future threat to food security if farming isn’t seen as a sustainable business for the next generation.

Fame often invites individuals to enter politics as indicated by Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s leap from the entertainment industry into the presidency in Ukraine. However, the switch from reality star to president in the United States can also serve as a word of caution.

Carberry, who entered politics only recently, is passionate about representing constituencies with sporting and farming backgrounds. “I’m offering variety for the voters,” She insists. She adds that people also thought that it was a crazy idea for her to participate in the Grand National.

The preceding paragraph is extracted from a discussion held during RTÉ’s European election debates in Midlands-North-West.

In sharp contrast, Mullooly has roamed the landscapes for years as a prominent correspondent for Midlands via RTÉ. He is known for answering his own calls and his sole entourage consists of his friend from the Independent Ireland party and council hopeful, Brian Crum, formerly associated with Fianna Fáil until he lost his seat in the previous election.

Throughout the years, major parties (barring Sinn Féin) have tried to recruit Mullooly, presenting opportunities that coincided well with his retirement and the proposal to sign up for a new party founded by TDs Michael Collins and Richard O’Donoghue.

Born a true politician, Mullooly is celebrated for his personable facial expressions, his sharp recall for names and faces, his local knowledge, and his surprising agility despite his size, particularly on sultry days. He has a knack for breezy, affable chatter and maintains his amicable mien, even when faced with expletive-filled rants against all political figures from one woman. The woman vents her anger on the semblance between every government department and RTÉ, leading Mullooly to bring up RTÉ’s withdrawal of his cameraman at a time when the cost for Ryan Tubridy could have covered two years of his salary. The woman’s wrath stems from her daughter’s disallowed construction on their property, a particularly sensitive topic in Ireland’s countryside.

As we navigate through Westmeath, with me at the wheel to avoid wasting campaign time sitting idle, Mullooly shares stories about his active engagement in suicide prevention and community work, and his recent promotion to deputy national president of the Lions Clubs. Central to his policy is his unfiltered disdain for the consequences of ‘Just Transition’, an EU funding initiative aimed at facilitating the midlands’ shift from peat production and peat-driven power generation, and how it has overlooked the plight of unemployed locals. He compelling asserts, “Had 2,000 jobs been lost at Dublin Airport, there would have been pandemonium. It wouldn’t have been tolerated. Yet Fianna Fáil cowardly sit idle and the Greens conveniently excuse it, saying we can’t appeal it.”

His rage is evidently genuine, and so is his primary aim. “The Greens are eager to progress the agenda – and rightly so. We’re all in agreement with the transition. I had solar panels installed in 2005. But the transition hasn’t proceeded as expected. It’s been too swift for those who have been left with no options,” he claims sincerely.

On the campaign trail, recognition plays a significant role. He claims he’s highly respected, having reported every St. Patrick’s Day parade in the county for several years. He swears that he has only received positive feedback about himself, RTÉ, and Michael Collins, the party’s co-founder. Furthermore, he has campaigned in all 15 counties in the Midlands-North-West.

Some of his popularity might be because he seldom mentions Michael Collins during canvassing. However, Michael Fitzmaurice, another party TD, is a constant reference point. He persistently asserts, “I am campaigning for Michael Fitzmaurice’s party,” stressing Fitzmaurice’s understanding of rural Ireland, far better than the Greens who see things in black and white. He emphasises that Fitzmaurice wants a representative in the European Parliament to review incoming legislation.

The reporter’s implication that being a part of an independent party is somewhat contradictory, or that allying himself with Independent Ireland gives weight to Collins’s controversial views – published recently in Hot Press magazine about castrating sex offenders, establishing ‘holding bays’ for certain asylum seekers, legalising prostitution as they are providing a service, along with automatic 25-year sentences for criminals on their third conviction – annoys him. Although he opposes some of Collins’s views, he is frustrated by repeated inquiries about them, asserting, “I’ve clarified this twice last week… People are well aware of my values and reasons for supporting Independent Ireland… They’re electing me, not Michael Collins.” The party has adopted eight policy documents, and Mullooly finds the lack of party discipline appealing. He anticipates joining two or three party colleagues in Brussels, providing him with a significantly better bargaining position than heading to an undetermined European Parliament group on his own.

An experienced RTÉ journalist and enthusiastic Gaeilgeoir, Ní Mhurchú, has been thriving in the realm of family law as a barrister for many years. A faithful member of Fianna Fáil for a significant period, primarily backed by her support for the Irish language, she got the invite to run by PJ Mara at 25, but chose legal practice instead. Notoriety descended on her with recollections of co-hosting Eurovision alongside Gerry Ryan in 1994, the year Riverdance took centre stage.

Similar to Mullooly, Ní Mhurchú is a proficient communicator. Upon establishing the initial contact with the campaign office, she was quick to reciprocate with a welcoming note, confirming details and locations. She is tireless in her positivity and energetic approach, ensuring visibility in her summertime attire and well-worn trainers, extending warm apologies for impromptu visits to the launch of the Tipperary Chamber awards, arranging a trio talk on the podium, and getting the Chamber CEO into a photo. She admits her teaching background frames her approach, with her spouse often reminding her “once a teacher, always a teacher”.

Her prime concern is EU competences, while her equally dynamic Clonmel colleague, Councillor Siobhán Ambrose, takes charge of local issues. She has a sincere and resonating style, being assertive and touchy-feely. Be it embracing people, lifting dogs, praising babies, or doing small talks with random people about the need for strong and positive representation in Europe, her grounded manner comes naturally.

All the three candidates acknowledge their celebrity status in some form or the other. Mullooly admits his fame but rejects the notion of it leading him into the elections. Ní Mhurchú concedes that her fame might resonate with a particular age group and is comfortable with labels, whether it be a lawyer, mother– the most pivotal role, or most importantly, a hard-worker.

Carberry asserts that the labelling doesn’t affect her in any way. She recognises her high-profile status, but clears up that her journey differs from Mullooly’s. She’s self-identified as a sports enthusiast who has garnered significant achievements, and takes pride in being a trailblazer for future women. However, as Professor of Politics at Dublin City University, Gary Murphy, emphasises, prior accomplishments in divergent field do not ascertain success in politics. He portrays the adverse political experiences of GAA icons like Brian Whelahan, the esteemed Offaly hurler, and Graham Geraghty, the prodigious Meath footballer. Both aspired towards Fine Gael positions only to face political defeat. Conversely, Cork’s Jack Lynch who like Whelahan was included in the hurling team of the millennium, effectively led Fianna Fáil for over a decade and served twice as taoiseach. Furthermore, Fine Gael has seen the victory of Jimmy Deenihan, the Kerry favourite, in seven Dáil elections leading to his designation as a minister.

They might draw inspiration from Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s jump from TV comic to the Ukrainian presidency. Nevertheless, there are cautionary instances such as the transition from reality star to US president which could discourage potential voters. Succinctly put, fame does not assure future progress. A case in point is Dana Rosemary Scallon’s surprising win of the third and final seat in the Connacht-Ulster constituency 25 years post her Eurovision victory. She was accompanied in Brussels by Finnish rally champion Ari Vatanen and British actor Michael Cashman from EastEnders, known for his role in the first gay kiss ever showcased on British soap. Cashman has since become a Labour peer in the House of Lords, celebrated for his human rights activism efforts.

Whether the European Parliament, with its growing influence, is taken seriously enough is a separate matter for contemplation. Murphy feels the major parties view European elections as a modest opportunity to send new representatives into a broad parliament where individual focus on areas of their interest is exploratory and no significant harm is likely. Non-election also potentially opens up another opportunity to contend for a Dáil seat. He comments on the unique nature of these European elections due to the rising right-wing radicalism.

Both the political party and the celebrity are beneficiaries, even if the same might not apply for the voters. Flanagan’s contempt for the celebrity candidates has yet to have any adverse effect on them. Based upon the latest data from the Irish Times/Ipsos B&A survey, Ní Mhurchú ranked fourth among 23 contenders for the five South constituency seats, while Carberry and Mulloolly held fifth and seventh places out of 25 in the Midlands-North-West five-seater. Flanagan, meanwhile, has not caused any damage to his own repute. He remains at the top in the competition.

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