LIMERICK man Dr Donncha MacGabhann is concerned about the health of Irish democracy.
So much so that the former art teacher and assistant principal of John The Baptist Community School in Hospital, County Limerick, has decided to run for the Áras when Michael D Higgins’ job comes available in November.
Dr MacGabhann, currently touring the country seeking nominations from local authorities, is passionate about his little blue book — Bunreacht na hÉireann (the Irish Constitution) — that he brandished like a preacher when the Limerick Post caught up with him on the campaign trail in the city.
If elected President of Ireland, the married father-of-three from Knockainey vows to maintain the Constitution of Ireland – which he says has been “undermined and forgotten” – by developing a range of initiatives.
Donncha, who for almost two decades undertook a major study on the Book of Kells for his PhD at the University of London, even plans to establish a forum for constitutional issues – if his bid is successful.
As patron of this forum, the 68-year-old explained how he would encourage contributions from across society.
Passionate, resourceful, and empathetic Donncha now wants to give something back to the country that has given him an “amazing life”.
“There are huge issues in this country, in particular with the health of our democracy — specifically with the Constitution,” he told the Limerick Post.
“It’s a tiny book and most people don’t know anything about it,” he suggests, holding up his copy proudly.
“This is what our patriots fought and died for 100 years ago. It defines our rights. It defines our duties. It’s who we are in the world, and, sadly, I have to say, it has come to my attention that it has been side-lined in serious ways. It has been undermined and forgotten.”
‘A bold stand by an ordinary citizen’
Donncha says “the Constitution defines our duties and rights as citizens and we must not allow these to be undermined”.
“Probably the most bizarre and ridiculous example of our Constitution being side-lined was in 2023 when a former graduate of the university here in Limerick took a case to the Supreme Court and won it.
“An amendment to our Constitution from 1979 was finally passed into law. This decision by the people of Ireland was ignored for over 40 years until a UL graduate successfully brought a case to the Supreme Court; this ensures future senate elections will be more democratic.
“Does it take a bold stand by an ordinary citizen to have the will of the people respected?”
Developing greater awareness of the Constitution is a key part of Donncha’s presidency bid, he tells me. In particular, he wants to bring focus on reaching out to young people in schools and colleges through creative celebration and artistic expression.
“I feel incredibly privileged to live in a democracy, and democracy is about the people — power residing in the people. Now, if ordinary people just take the opinion, ‘well, look, the politicians look after all that, it’s not my business. Why would I be doing anything about that?’ And I have tried to put myself in that category as well, for a long period of time, until I became aware of these particularly constitutional issues.
“Basically, I said, the people who should be doing something about this are not doing so.”
When asked on his calls to action, he tells says: “Oh, my goodness, the biggest job in the country. You want to be the first citizen of Ireland? The interesting thing about the job of the President is that he has very little executive power, and I think people are always commenting on that, but the very first thing taking office, the President declares and promises to maintain the Constitution of Ireland.”
“We often hear that maybe one of the few executive powers is that the President can refer a piece of legislation to the Supreme Court in consultation with his assembly. He doesn’t just do this off his own back because he feels like it. He has advisors and so on. Now, what I’m suggesting is that that role be extended somewhat, not changed, just given a little bit more meaning, given a little bit more depth.
“The President can maintain the Constitution. One of the really important ways in which I’m suggesting that can be done is that the President be patron of an ongoing citizens’ assembly whereby you, me, the nurse out in maternity, the teacher, or the bus driver can be selected to be part of an ongoing assembly where people can discuss most things within the world of politics.”
‘We must never take our eye off the ball
The Limerick man wants to give leadership in being vigilant and guarding democracy, but if nothing else, start a conversation around the building blocks of our nation. This, in itself, he considers a victory.
“We must never take our eye off the ball. In the words of Irish patriot John Philpott Curran: ‘Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty’,” he says.
“I’ve described my campaign as a mission. Yeah, okay, ‘President with a mission’, and it’s not that I necessarily expect to be elected. I have no party, no funding, and I’m not even looking for any, but my mission is to start a conversation that would include issues like neutrality, any issue relating to the health of our democracy, the concerns of ordinary citizens that would give them a forum where they feel they could be heard.”
If any of his mission resonates with people locally, Donncha has urged the people of Limerick to reach out to Limerick City and County Council and its elected members to encourage them to promote the idea of nominating him for the presidency.
“Some people may consider it very idiotic. I would consider it patriotic. The fact that I’m talking to you is a degree of success,” he tells me.
“I would certainly like to take this all the way, to continue my mission from that big house in Dublin. But if that doesn’t happen, even if all I did was raise these issues and bring them to people’s attention (that is a victory). Because if nobody else is doing it, yes, I’m going to stand up. I’m not going to sit idly by.”
For more on Dr Donncha MacGabhann and his bid for the Áras, visit macsmission.ie.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
