REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, A woman sits alone on a bench in a park following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dublin, Ireland, May 17, 2020. The funny story above is a satire or parody. An extremely popular president, he is being supported in his re-election campaign by Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Labour Party, but a decision by Sinn Féin to field a candidate against him ensured that an election had to take place. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Patrick Hand affixes crosses to the outdoor chapel of a thousand crosses and a million tears at Balally Parish Church of the Ascension of the Lord, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dublin, Ireland, May 27, 2020. REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff, Ryanair planes are seen at Dublin Airport, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Dublin, Ireland, May 1, 2020. (Photo by PAUL FAITH / AFP) (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images), A pedestrian passes a poster alerting the public that if they must leave their home, they adhere to social distancing guidelines and stay two meters (2m) or six feet (6ft) away from other people, in Dublin city centre on April 8, 2020, as life in Ireland continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Mark Kelly sits outside his home following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dublin, Ireland, May 19, 2020. “Secondly, in relation to the idea of conscience. See PA story IRISH President. level 2 The St Patrick's Day parades across Ireland were cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19 virus. It is something that I am absolutely convinced was the right thing to do. He also has the best knowledge of protocol of anyone I know.”. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Ireland's Prime Minister Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks during a news conference on the ongoing situation with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at Government Buildings in Dublin, Ireland March 24, 2020. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. A man and a dog in the Irish Sea off Burrow beach in Dublin as the sun shines. Delivered at 1pm each day. REUTERS/Carmel Crimmins, A person in fancy dress in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day as public events were cancelled as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world, in Dublin, Ireland, March 17, 2020. These measures are expected to remain in place until July 20. A sign notifying customers of stock limitation policies in a Spar in Dublin. President Michael D Higgins has issued a statement to the Irish people, calling for renewed efforts to observe social distancing guidelines, as well as solidarity and empathy in the weeks ahead. Issue date: Saturday October 13, 2018. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison), People go about their business in Dublin city centre, Tuesday March 17, 2020. “I am open, if re-elected, to offering a better way to offering transparency on it. Each voter was shown a ballot paper and asked to choose their first and second preference voting intention. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, A man enjoys an evening ray of light at the door of his back garden as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Dublin, Ireland, April 16, 2020. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, A woman walks with a placard with the Bible reference as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, Dublin, Ireland, March 29, 2020. The account details entered are not currently associated with an Irish Times subscription. When you have reset your password, you can, Please choose a screen name. The outdoor chapel's wall of crosses has become a shrine and each cross represents a person in Ireland that has died from coronavirus and is added to daily. Does he worry about doing so, I ask. (Photo from Xinhua via Getty) (Xinhua/ via Getty Images), DUBLIN, March 28, 2020 . He told us that Ireland is a land of leprechauns, castles, wooden houses, horse drawn carts, and where everyone bursts into song n' dance at a moment's notice. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, A parishioner prays at the outdoor chapel of a thousand crosses and a million tears as at Balally Parish Church of the Ascension of the Lord, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dublin, Ireland, May 27, 2020. We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the, For the best site experience please enable JavaScript in your browser settings, Irish Times Poll: Little enthusiasm among voters for tackling climate change, Irish Times poll: Half of voters believe schools should reopen ‘as normal’ in September, Irish Times poll: Almost half of Green voters support proposed coalition, ‘For you. That said, Higgins’s lead is of such magnitude that an eruption of volcanic proportions is needed to prevent a second term. Cookies help us deliver our Services. “The other side is that he was a manager of a constituency office and also as part of a labour office in Dail Eireann. Commenting on The Irish Times has changed. (Photo by PAUL FAITH / AFP) (Photo by PAUL FAITH/AFP via Getty Images), Irish police officers, or Garda officers, talk with members of the public as they conduct checks on pedestrians and motorists in Dublin city centre on April 8, 2020, as life in Ireland continues during the nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus pandemic. (Photo By Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images), A tourist tries to enter a pub in the Temple Bar area of Dublin, as bars across Ireland close voluntarily to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Dublin, Ireland, March 15, 2020. Michael D Higgins has served as the ninth president of Ireland since 2011, and confirmed in July that he wishes to serve a second seven year term when his time is up this autumn. Health and safety guidelines relating to the Covid-19 pandemic at the entrance to a construction site in Dublin. It is what the President, directly elected and exercising judgement, should do.”. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY, An electronic sign reading 'keep your distance' is seen on an empty street following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Dublin, Ireland, May 8, 2020. - Irish police set up nationwide traffic checkpoints on Wednesday, armed with new powers to enforce a lockdown designed to stem the spread of the coronavirus. See PA story IRISH President. This latest poll confirms strong support for Higgins across all age groups, ranging from 62 per cent among the youngest voter cohort (18-24 years) to 64 per cent among those aged over 50 years. “You suddenly had to say where you were all the time; you realise other people are depending on your answers. Michael D Higgins is streets ahead of all other candidates in the race to become the next President of Ireland. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire, Previously unissued photo dated 1/10/2018 of Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher at Dublin City University. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/grenier-trudeau-approval-1.4173056. The roadblocks have been put in place ahead of Easter holidays, traditionally used as an occasion for travel in Ireland. The roadblocks have been put in place ahead of Easter holidays, traditionally used as an occasion for travel in Ireland. When he was elected in 2011, Higgins said he would not seek a … A tram station is seen empty in Dublin, Ireland, on March 28, 2020. The most vulnerable should be described as just that, more vulnerable than the rest of us, and appropriate for special care. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, Dublin , Ireland - 22 April 2020; A general view of Richmond Park, in Dublin, following the announcement that the Board of St Patrick's Athletic FC took the decision to temporarily lay off its playing and coaching staff due to the on-going Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For most people, the new COVID-19 coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, but for some it can cause more severe illness. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne, A bike delivery man passes by, while a homeless person is seen lying in the entrance of a restaurant as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Dublin, Ireland, March 29, 2020.