Presidential hopeful draws on experience as UN peacekeeper and football manager

A former peacekeeper who crafted his public profile by managing the Dublin Gaelic football team has entered the race to be Ireland’s next president.

Jim Gavin was selected as the candidate for Ireland’s largest party, Fianna Fail, on Tuesday.

The 54-year-old Dubliner is not a career politician but was put forward as the preferred candidate by party leader and Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Mr Gavin, a married father-of-two, is most prominently known for his role as manager of the record-breaking Dublin side which won five successive All-Ireland Championships.

Prior to his stint as a football manager, he won the championship as a player in 1995.

From Clondalkin, Mr Gavin’s career within Ireland’s Defence Forces has been cited by Mr Martin as an example of why he would make an “outstanding” president.

His 20-year career saw him take on many roles as a commissioned officer and military pilot, also holding posts such as chief flying officer.

Mr Gavin was appointed the chief of military aviation for the United Nations peacekeeping mission operating in the Central African Republic and Chad in 2010.

Mr Martin said: “He is extremely well known throughout the country, has served in Oglaigh na hEireann here and in peacekeeping, which, to me, is the most noble duty anybody can perform.

“So we’re dealing with a very competent, capable, well-known person.”

Mr Gavin, whose parents hail from Co Clare, also took up public services roles in chairing a citizens’ assembly on whether to appoint a directly elected mayor in Dublin, and leading the North-East Inner City Taskforce for the capital.

He was also awarded the Freedom of Dublin City by the Dublin City Council.

The qualified commercial pilot has worked within the Irish Aviation Authority, rising to become its chief operations officer.

After considerable grumbles from within the press pack about a lack of access to the candidate in recent weeks, Mr Gavin spoke to reporters following the confirmation of his nomination on Tuesday.

Describing himself in his own words, the presidential hopeful said he is a “centrist” and a “proud constitutional republican”.

Mr Gavin added: “I’ve served the State. I’m motivated by a sense of duty. I’m motivated by serving the people of the country – that has always been in my DNA.”

Later during an interview on RTE, Mr Gavin confirmed he had been approached by Fianna Fail, and had previously been asked by the party to run in a European election which he turned down.

“It took a lot of reflection to see was this the right thing for myself, and indeed for the country,” he said.

“My life has been really entwined by service … and that’s what speaks to me.”

He said he declined the invitation to run for Europe because he didn’t see himself at that time as a politician serving in Europe.

“I look at the role of president as a very important role for Ireland, there are certain constitutional powers that are important, there is also a role for the president to be active and energetic in communities, to advocate for community organisations and build on the work that previous presidents have done in terms of a shared island initiative.”

Mr Gavin was also asked about his view on the triple lock, which is the requirement for Government, Dail and UN approval to send more than 12 Irish soldiers overseas.

He indicated he was in favour of its abolition.

“For me, Article 5 of the Constitution is very clear, we’re a democratic, sovereign and independent state, and my view is that we should have the confidence as a nation in terms of the Executive, the Government, the Oireachtas to make decisions where we put our troops,” he said.