This contribution was originally published in The Irish Times on October 24th 2025.

On this election day, it’s worth pausing to think about what the Presidency of Ireland is really for. Beyond the formal role of signing laws and safeguarding the constitution, people tend to judge candidates on a simpler basis: who will best represent my views?

While that’s an understandable sentiment, it is a flawed way of thinking to believe one person can somehow reflect the views of the entire nation. We can’t even agree on what to get on our chicken fillet roll, let alone every nuanced social issue.

The next Uachtarán na hÉireann won’t share every personal opinion you hold. That’s not a flaw in the system, but a reflection of who we are: not some uniform stereotype of flat-cap-wearing leprechauns with a drinking problem, but a modern nation that, despite not always getting it right, embraces diversity of opinion and the democratic process.

This is perhaps also where the greatest opportunity for a President lies: not to mirror us, but to remind us of what we share.