O'Muircheartaigh Rules Out Presidency Bid

Legendary GAA commentator Micheal O'Muircheartaigh has announced that he will not be seeking a nomination to run for President of Ireland.

The 81-year-old said he was "honored and humble that so many people from all sections of society" had contacted him to offer support for a bid.

But he believed that it was in the best interest of the country to have a President that was part of the constitutional system.

He's the second high profile broadcaster to rule out running for president, after Gay Byrne withdrew his name from the contest earlier this month.

Both men enjoyed a surge of popular support in the wake of the controversial exit of front-runner David Norris from the campaign last month.

There is a public appetite for a president who comes from outside the political system, and the summer has seen several 'celebrity' names linked to the post.

O'Murcheartaigh said he never considered being a candidate until he was approached by several people after Mr Byrne's withdrawal.

"I have never said I was interested in being a candidate in the election but I think out of respect for the people who asked me and approached me and offered support I had to consider it," he said.

"All along my initial reaction was that I wouldn't get involved ... All sports bodies, I think they're wisely kept out of party politics. I did that over the years."

He also said that he was turned off by the nomination process, and said the system should be reformed to make it easier for those outside of politics to run.

"The nomination process - that is a political approach you have to take. I decided then that I would not be a contender and it was time to end the speculation," he said.

It now looks increasingly likely that October's election will be between the four candidates declared so far - Gay Mitchell (FG), Michael D Higgins (LAB), Sean Gallagher (Ind) and Mary Davis (Ind).

Fianna Fail will consider this week whether or not the party should enter a candidate in the race.

The issue is dividing the party.

Senior figures, including leader Micheal Martin, are not keen on spending money on an election that they would have very little prospect of winning.

They would however support a parachute candidate from outside the party, like Gay Byrne, who might enjoy public support.

But others in the party, including deputy leader Eamon O'Cuiv, believe it would be detrimental to the party's long term prospects not to contest a presidential election for the first time ever.

Brian Crowley, the Munster MEP, who has voiced his desire to be the party's nominee on several occasions, announced last week that he was no longer interested in launching a bid.

In a public rebuke to his party leader, Mr Crowley said he feel free to seek the nomination because the party was divided on its approach to the election.

He told RTE he couldn't understand the party's reluctance to field an internal candidate.

"If you're a political party, if you're serious about being a relevant national movement, you should be fighting elections," he argued.

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said Mr Crowley was a valued member of the party and he respected his decision.

"The process remains the same for deciding the party's strategy for the presidential election. I have established a sub-committee that is scheduled to meet (this) week.

The committee is tasked with submitting recommendations to the parliamentary party, which will make the final decision in the coming weeks," he said.