Catholic World News News Feature
Ireland Chooses Pro-Life Woman From Belfast As President November 03, 1997
DUBLIN (CWN) - The new President of Ireland, Professor Mary McAleese, became the first person from northern Ireland to be elected President of the Irish Republic last Thursday.
A committed Catholic, McAleese has made no secret of her pro-life views. She was supported by the government coalition parties, Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats. The choice of McAleese -- a law professor at Belfast's Queen's University -- was seen as an attempt to win the pro-life vote from Dana, the Alabama-based TV personality born in Derry in northern Ireland. Dana, born Rosemary Scallon, has had a successful career in music since winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Ireland in the early 70s.
Dana was originally asked to run for the presidency by a group of Irish pro-lifers. At first she refused, but when she realized the extent of the support for her candidacy, she agreed to run. No Irish political party would back her, so the only alternative was to be sponsored by four county councils -- a route never before attempted. Having gained the necessary backings from five county councils, Dana was the first declared candidate in the field.
She was followed by Mary Banotti, a divorced member of the European Parliament; anti-nuclear campaigner Adi Roche; government candidate Mary McAleese; and the only male candidate, former police officer Derek Nally. The major political parties swung their support behind McAleese, Banotti (Fine Gael) and Roche (Labour/Democratic Left). Dana and Nally were the only two independent candidates.
Despite the concerted political campaign and the diversion of much pro-life support to Mary McAleese, Dana won more votes than Roche and Nally combined. Altogether, 1,279,688 voters went to the polls. Mary McAleese received 574,424 votes, Mary Banotti 372,002, Dana 175,458, Adi Roche 88,423 and Derek Nally 59,529. Dana said she was absolutely delighted with her showing. She said she had been a voice for those who felt betrayed by the political parties, and her vote was a victory for democracy on a local and national level. She accepted that she would not be President, but she said she was a "Precedent."
