The Irish Presidency

Some statistics about the highest office in the land.

First things first for my overseas subscribers, the Irish Presidency is a job with no significant powers. It does have plenty of symbolic heft, kind of like being the Queen of England, but without the miscreant family affairs being played out in public.

Since its establishment in 1938, the office of the President of Ireland has seen nine individuals serve as head of state, reflecting the nation's evolving political and social landscape. The history of the presidency reveals a fascinating story, from the dominance of one political party in the early years to the rise of Labour and female candidates who have reshaped the role.

The office of President was created under the 1937 Constitution of Ireland Act. Over the decades, the office has gone from political consolation prize to national mood ring, reflecting Ireland’s slow crawl from post-revolutionary suffocating conservatism.

The first lucky incumbent was Douglas Hyde, a Gaelic scholar and a Protestant, because nothing says “We’re over …