Martin Sheen, President of Ireland

[Æsir]

After seeing this somewhat silly thread, I came across this fascinating tidbit;

Martin Sheen has turned down pleas to run for president of Ireland. The actor told a Chicago audience that he would not run despite a groundswell of support.

Sheen supporters had launched a Facebook page that was picking up 1,000 supporters a day He stated he was “flattered" by the online effort to get him to run for Ireland’s highest office, but that he was definitely not running.

Sheen, 70, was eligible because his mother, Mary Anne Phelan, was born in Tipperary, and he is an Irish citizen.

Sheen is the latest high profile name to withdraw from consideration. Irish senator and gay activist David Norris withdrew when leading in the polls, as did Irish television host Gay Byrne.

Sheen had spent a semester at University College Galway studying literature in 2006.

He is a frequent visitor to Ireland and has often stated his love for his ancestral land.

Despite Sheen’s withdrawal, his Facebook campaign surpassed 5,000 followers on Saturday and showed no sign of slowing down.

So could Michael Sheen, perhaps best known as the fictional President of the United States Josiah "Jed" Bartlet, enter the race for the Irish Presidency? Perhaps for some reason the OTL winner, Michael D. Higgins, a friend of Sheen's and the candidate Sheen endorsed, decides not to run? If Sheen did enter, could he win?

 

[David S Poepoe]

Wouldn't someone also point out his Hispanic background as well? Why only mention the mother's country of origin? Ramón Antonio Gerard Estévez does have a nice Irish accent, however perhaps the Spanish are in greater need of an inspiring president than the Irish.

 

[Æsir]

Wouldn't someone also point out his Hispanic background as well? Why only mention the mother's country of origin? Ramón Antonio Gerard Estévez does have a nice Irish accent, however perhaps the Spanish are in greater need of an inspiring president than the Irish.

Ireland has a figurehead Presidency whereas Spain is a monarchy, and thus doesn't have an equivalent elected head of state position. I'm also not sure what kind of relationship he has with his father's homeland, whereas he has frequently visited Ireland and studied at the University of Ireland Galway. And on top of that, Ireland has a particularly permissive nationality law whereas Spain does not seem to.

 

[Dathi THorfinnsson]

Irish senator and gay activist David Norris withdrew when leading in the polls, as did Irish television host Gay Byrne.

Hmm... a race where both candidates were Gay? That would be interesting.

 

[hsthompson]

Wouldn't someone also point out his Hispanic background as well? Why only mention the mother's country of origin? Ramón Antonio Gerard Estévez does have a nice Irish accent, however perhaps the Spanish are in greater need of an inspiring president than the Irish.

I don't think so. At least they would not point it out for very long, since there's precedent.
After all, De Valera's surname didn't hurt him one bit...

 

[BELFAST]

Wouldn't someone also point out his Hispanic background as well? Why only mention the mother's country of origin? Ramón Antonio Gerard Estévez does have a nice Irish accent, however perhaps the Spanish are in greater need of an inspiring president than the Irish.

Éamon de Valera father was Juan Vivion de Valera, a Cuban settler and sculptor of Spanish descent and he became President.

Perhaps if Martin sheen became President Ireland could be come the 51st state of the USA.


or Perhaps only in a spin off for the TV series "West Wing"., called "West Wing the 51st State".

Fail fail could join the Republicans and Fine Geal could join the Democrats

Labour and other parties would become just another set of third parties.

"The Right to keep and bear arms" might take a little adjusting to for the Irish.

 

[Enigmajones]

I don't think so. At least they would not point it out for very long, since there's precedent.
After all, De Valera's surname didn't hurt him one bit...

Well he was born as George De Valero in the Bronx to an Irish mother and a Cuban father and then raised by his mothers family in Limerick. So by the time he got into politics he was about as Irish as anyone else, not to mention being a huge advocate of Gaelic language. I wish I could say sport as well, but Dev was very fond of Rugby.

Also why would Martin Sheen run for President of Ireland? Its a figurehead position.

 

[Goldwater64]

2 Questions...

1) Wasn't Eamon de Valera of mixed Irish-Spanish ancestry?

2) Can an American serve as a foreign head of state?