BUSINESSMAN Sean Gallagher released a presidential pitch video and its not getting the reaction he would have expected.
The ex-Dragons Den investor delivered a dramatic pitch for his presidency in 60 seconds or less on RTE News over the weekend, and the response from the public has been not entirely favourable to say the least.
Ahead of the election on October 26, current President Michael D. Higgins has been on the streets of Dublin and Cork campaigning for his re-election.
He also released a typically poetic pitch last week announcing his intention to remain as president.
In an attempt to outdo his competitor, Gallagher stood in front of a camera and delivered lines such as “we soared above giants in Croke Park” and “a candle in the window lit a fire in our heart”.
Seán Gallagher gives his presidential pitch in 60 seconds or less pic.twitter.com/ftD8mfhE64
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 7, 2018
While the sentimentality and imagery Gallagher is attempting to get across is clear, many on social media felt he failed miserably with his attempt to seduce potential voters, and they didn’t hold back in letting him know.
Omg that Sean Gallagher presidential pitch is too much. Honestly that guy has 0, zero, nothing, zilch, nada, to offer except that he lost last time around. People like him make politicians look good by comparison, shameful really
— Dreamz~2~Realization (@PlatinumRay) October 8, 2018
Write your own Séan Gallagher presidential pitch by typing "We have achieved so much as a small island" on your phone and then hitting the suggested words buttons repeatedly... https://t.co/rxSuRS0EPl
— Frank Prendergast (@frankiep) October 7, 2018
Seán Gallagher had SEVEN YEARS to think up what he was going to say during this Presidential Election and then he settled on the most banal and cringe-inducing string of cliches known to the Irish psyche.
SEVEN.YEARS. #Aras18— Darren O’Keeffe (@darrenjokeeffe) October 7, 2018
I've watched all the Presidential pitches now and from what I can gather Gavin Duffy thinks he's a one man solution to Brexit, Peter Casey is being backed by Skype and Sean Gallagher, as usual, has contributed nothing useful at all.
— Ronzo Teilifís Eireann (@ronronzo) October 7, 2018
Later this month, Gallagher will go up against the incumbent Higgins — as well as Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada, Senator Joan Freeman, and other businessmen and reality TV personalities Gavin Duffy and Peter Casey for the position of President of Ireland.
Earlier today, Mr Gallagher announced that he would divest himself of all his business interests if elected to Aras an Uachtarain.
He made the promise as he campaigned in Cork and Kerry in response to a high profile High Court case involving one of his firms.