Who will be Ireland's Next President?

The Irish Passport

Society & Culture

4.8 • 652 Ratings

🗓️ 19 September 2025

⏱️ 73 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Naomi and Tim take a look at the candidates who have put themselves forward for the highest office in the land and consider what the Irish presidency means in the 21st century. We look at the odd nature of presidential office in Ireland, how the role has changed significantly over recent mandates, and why that could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis in the future. Bonus episodes are available for supporters over on www.patreon.com/theirishpassport

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, welcome to Irish Passport.
0:02.3	Let's do it.
0:03.1	Welcome to the Irish Passport.
0:04.8	I'm Tim McInerney.
0:06.0	I'm Naomi O'Leary.
0:07.0	We're friends.
0:07.7	Can you both to Naomi?
0:08.5	Anwar Fat, Tim.
0:09.9	This is your passport to Irish culture, history and politics.
0:13.2	Uh-huh.
0:13.5	I'm recording.
0:14.2	One, two, two, three.
0:16.6	Okay.
0:42.4	Hello everyone and welcome back to the Irish Passport where we are refreshed and ready to kick off for a whole new season of episodes, Naomi.
0:43.9	What are we talking about today?
0:55.5	Okay, so today we are talking about an unusual aspect of the Irish state, which emerged as part of the nation's struggle for independence as it threw off British rule. And that is the Irish presidency. We're talking about it today because after two terms in office, some 14 years in all,
1:02.4	the popular left-wing president, Michael D. Higgins, is coming to the end of his time in the office
1:07.6	and a well-deserved retirement at the age of 84. Yes, indeed. So it has been, I mean,
1:13.6	that's half of 30 years. You know, this is a long time that Michael D. has been president.
1:19.1	And he's very well-known figure around the world at this stage, partially because he's
1:24.4	fairly distinct to look at. He's quite a diminutive man. He's got a very distinct voice, a very high-pitched voice. But also, if anyone has ever had the pleasure of hearing him give a speech, he gives a rollicking speech. And it's no matter whether he's opening a primary school or declaring some kind of new part of the Irish Constitution, it's something
1:45.3	that you would never forget, usually.
	...

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