Ireland goes to the polls

Unlike previous elections, some of which have had only one candidate, voters this time have seven choices.

They are Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell, Michael D Higgins of the Labour Party, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness and four independents – Sean Gallagher, Dana Rosemary Scallon, Mary Davis and David Norris.

Among them are a Eurovision song contest winner, a Nationalist and a former reality TV presenter. Some voters see the array of candidates as providing welcome relief from the ongoing financial crisis.

“It’s pure entertainment at this stage, ” said Valerie Drew, a 45-year-old civil servant. “I think people are more interested in the individuals’ private lives than in what they can do. The whole thing is a bit of a joke.”

‘Reality TV’ candidate slips to second place

Sean Gallagher, who shot to fame as a presenter on TV show Dragon’s Den, had 40 per cent of support leading up to the vote, putting him 15 points ahead of his closest rival, according to polls.

But second-placed Michael D Higgins was installed as favourite by bookmakers Paddy Power and Boylesports after Gallagher faced problems in the final campaign debate over his money ties to Fianna Fail. Another controversial candidates, Martin McGuinness, is already a Westminster MP, although he does not take up his seat there. Channel 4 News caught up with him in Bluebell, Dublin, the kind of working class area where Sinn Fein does well.

Gallagher first denied that he had collected a 5,000 euro cheque from a man who attended a fundraiser to former prime minister Brian Cowen three years ago, but then conceded he may have done so. He is a former member of Fianna Fail, who are blamed by voters for presiding over the country’s economic collapse.

Despite refusing to swear the oath of allegiance to the British crown, Mr McGuinness said he would be happy to meet heads of state from all over the world if he became president. His audacious bid for the job would complete a personal journey from terrorist to member of the establishment. He has been confronted on the campaign trail by the son of an IRA victim.

Mary McAleese and ‘bridge building’

The outgoing president, Mary McAleese has been in the role since 1997, succeeding the only other female in the job, Mary Robinson. She has described her own presidency as being focused on “bridge building”.

Among the events she was involved with were the British Queen’s historic visit to Ireland , taking communion in an Anglican Cathedral despite being a practicist Roman Catholic and celebrating the Twelfth of July, a significant date in the Protestant calendar.

Polling stations close at 10pm tonight and the ballot boxes will be opened on Friday morning. The result may not be known until Saturday due to the complexities of the voting system. The Single Transferable Vote system is used, whereby voters rank their choices.

Candidates are eliminated one by one and their votes redistributed until one has an absolute majority.