Ireland re-elects president, set to dump blasphemy law
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland re-elected its president for a second term, official results showed on Saturday, despite a surge in support for the runner-up after controversial comments targeted at the Irish Traveller ethnic minority.
(image does not transfer, see at link)
Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins is declared elected and congratulated by his wife Sabina Higgins during the announcement of the results of the Irish presidential elections in Dublin, Ireland, October 27, 2018. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne
Michael D. Higgins, a left-wing former arts minister who enjoyed the support of three of the four largest political parties, easily won re-election to the largely ceremonial role with 56 percent of the vote, the electoral commission said.
Media coverage had focused on the surge in support for independent businessman Peter Casey, who came second with 23 percent of the vote, up from 2 percent in an opinion poll just days earlier.
Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ireland-politics/ireland-re-elects-president-set-to-dump-blasphemy-law-idUSKCN1N10SJ
The Irish Traveler ethnic group, I had never known about this.
Irish Travellers (Irish: an lucht siúil, meaning 'the walking people') are a traditionally itinerant ethnic group who maintain a set of traditions.[2][3] Although predominantly English-speaking, some also use Shelta and other similar cants. They live mostly in Ireland as well as comprising large communities in the United Kingdom and the United States.[4] Their origin is disputed. Traveller rights groups have long pushed for ethnic status from the Irish government, finally succeeding in 2017.[5]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Travellers
Some seem to be in the US per above (maybe in South Carolina for one place).
And for the record, the President of Ireland who won reelection looks a bit like a cross between Bernie Sanders and Grandpa Munster.
AND, their alleged blasphemy law seems to have been tossed. It really was an issue but rarely ever enforced as to look like an antiquated law.
