A farmer from the Beara Peninsula will visit the Dail today to try to secure a nomination for the presidential election. Mr John O'Connor has an appointment with an Independent TD, whose support he will be seeking. He will also hand out letters of introduction to other TDs and Senators. Mr O'Connor faxed local authorities last week to secure support for his nomination. When he was informed that he had started his campaign too late for councillors to be given proper notice, he decided to seek the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas instead.
Mr O'Connor said he had discerned an "aching among the electorate for new candidates" and was opposed to the "sexist" way some of the existing candidates had been selected. As President he would "continue to portray at home and abroad the intelligent, diverse and caring society that Mary Robinson characterised and projected so well".
"Where else in the world could a completely unknown, relatively penniless, idealistic citizen sit down in front of his typewriter in a morning and make a bid for the Presidency of his country with a chance of success?" he asked in his letter of introduction to county councillors last week.
