Mistake in Campaign Video Highlights Importance of Attention to Detail
Heather Humphreys, a Fine Gael presidential candidate, recently faced an embarrassing situation when she had to delete and re-edit a campaign video that was meant to showcase her connection to Belfast. The error occurred when the video mistakenly included an image of the Bundestag in Berlin with a German flag instead of Belfast City Hall.
The video was initially shared on social media to highlight her ties to the North. However, the mistake quickly became apparent, leading to widespread online discussion and jokes about the mix-up. The error came just days after Humphreys emphasized her unique understanding of the North and claimed she doesn’t just make day trips there.
During her visit to Belfast, Humphreys toured several locations, including Ulster University and St Dominic’s School on the Falls Road, which is known for having Mary McAleese as a former student. The video caption read: “I will be a President for All. Thank you to St Dominic’s for the invitation to visit the school of our former President, Mary McAleese on the Falls Road and to all of the local community groups and students I met in Queen’s University and @StudyAtUlster. A lovely day in Belfast.”
Social media users were quick to point out the mistake, with many making light-hearted comments. One user joked: “Easy to confuse both cities, they each begin with the letter B. Honest mistake.” Another quipped: “To FG a president for the Four Provinces means Leinster, Munster, Connacht and East Germany apparently!” A third comment suggested: “Some of these social media interns are in dire need of further training.”
Humphreys now faces only one other candidate, Catherine Connolly, since Jim Gavin withdrew from the race. This makes it the first time in over 20 years that the presidential election has had such few options. In 2004, Mary McAleese was re-elected uncontested for a second term after serving her first seven-year term.
Belfast native Humphreys first ran for president in 1997, competing against four other candidates, including Dana. She received 45% of the first-preference votes during her initial election. Before 2004, there were three instances where a single candidate was elected without opposition: in 1974, Cearbhall Ó’Dálaigh from Fianna Fáil was elected unopposed; in 1976, Patrick Hillery was elected unopposed following Ó’Dálaigh’s retirement; and in 1983, Hillery was re-elected for a second term.
The first time the presidential election became a two-horse race was in 1959, when Éamon de Valera defeated Fine Gael’s Seán Mac Eoin. In 1966, de Valera again won against Tom O’Higgins of Fine Gael, and in 1973, Erskin H. Childers of Fianna Fáil defeated the same Fine Gael candidate.
Another instance of a single candidate was in 1952, when Seán T. O’Kelly was re-elected uncontested. The last presidential election in 2018 saw Michael D Higgins retain his position without opposition. In 2011, there were the most candidates—seven officially nominated—with Higgins winning against notable figures like Dana, Seán Gallagher, David Norris, and Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness.
