Duffy counting on home support in Áras race bid

Louise Walsh
Meath’s presidential hopeful has described securing the support of his ‘home county’ council as ‘very important’, in his bid to win a nomination to enter the upcoming election.
Julianstown-based Businessman Gavin Duffy, who declared his intention to enter the presidential race at the weekend, said he is to seek the support of Meath Co. Council in late August.
A native of Drogheda, County Louth, the investor on TV’s Dragon’s Den series has been living in Kilsharvan - between Julianstown and Duleek - for the last 20 years.
If successful in his campaign as President, he says he would continue to help start-up businesses and to “bring out the best in people.”

_{Gavin Duffy and son Lorcan plot strategy at their Kilsharvan home}

“Once an election was evident after Sinn Fein saying they would field a candidate, I decided that I wanted to offer people more of a choice,” he said.
The regular conference speaker who also hosts training and advice events added: “My career has always been about bringing the best out of people and helping them to grow their own companies.
“My job is developing people to be leaders in community groups and social enterprise and spotting the wealth of emerging talent out there.”
In his career, the well-known entrepreneur estimates that he has invested in 50 start-up Irish businesses.

“The President has not got  a lot of power but has huge influence and I would use this influence to shine a spotlight on various areas.”
Mr Duffy pointed out his interest in the Irish Arts and Culture and his long association with the Drogheda Classical Music Series.
“I want to be a President for people who have never had a President - to be out meeting people on the ground.  I’d be different and I’d be energised.”
He played down his previous support for the Ward Union Hunt in Dunshaughlin, after the Animal Rights Action Network and the Irish Council Against Blood Sports said they were ‘outraged’ at his presidential election bid in national media on Monday.

A former President of the Hunting Association of Ireland, Mr Duffy defended the Ward Union Hunt against calls by the Green Party to ban stag hunting.
However, he told the Meath Chronicle: “There are 700,000 people involved in rural pursuits and when I got involved, I was trying to stop a domino effect on the agri-sector and a possible ban on live exports.”

There has been some speculation that former presidential candidate and Gavin’s former colleague on Dragon’s Den Sean Gallagher may also throw his hat in the ring with reports he had written to every local authority asking them to support independent candidates.
Mr Duffy confirmed that he had told Mr Gallagher of his own considerations when they talked in early July.
“Sean is in the States and I did reach out to tell him when I declared but I haven’t heard back. The last time I talked to him was on July 8th so he was aware that I was considering it then.”

_{Gavin and Orliath at home in Kilsharvan}

Mr Duffy is seeking the support of four councils and as the Meath Chronicle went to press on Tuesday, Mr Gavin was hoping to secure nomination from Waterford City and County Council.
He confirmed he also hopes to address the members of Louth County Council in the coming weeks.

What’s your view on the Presidency and Gavin Duffy's bid? We want to hear from you E: news@meathchronicle.ie