Kiltimagh woman makes bid for the Áras

Mary Davis, who is seeking a nomination for the Presidency, is pictured with her daughter Rebecca, and husband Julian at her campaign launch last week.Pic: Maxwells

Kiltimagh native launches Presidential campaign


Deirdre Gavin

Special Olympics chief and Kiltimagh native Mary Davis, has confirmed she is seeking a nomination to contest the presidential election. Mary is currently the Managing Director of Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia where she oversees the development of the Special Olympic Games in 58 countries from Europe to Central Asia.
Davis said she wanted to be an Independent candidate and a ‘practical President, and said at the launch of her campaign: “Ireland needs a President who can represent our country abroad and present our unique strengths abroad, a President who can promote fairness and equality at home by being a voice for those who feel excluded, and a president who can support communities who work together to overcome difficulties. All my working life has been committed to delivering this change. I’ve seen at first hand the extraordinary communities who exist all over Ireland.”
Ms Davis has written to all local authority members in the State to ask them to nominate her but has not ruled out accepting support from the Oireachtas. Potential candidates require the support of four councils or the backing of 20 members of the DΡil and Seanad, in order to be nominated.
“I want to play a leadership role in making change happen, to inspire reform and renewal at home whilst rebuilding our place in the wider world. To be a practical President, in the service of the Irish people. I will be travelling the country in the coming weeks, seeking the support of local representatives to secure a nomination for President.”
Mary became National Director of Special Olympics Ireland in 1989 and was Events Director of the 1985 European Special Olympics Games in Dublin. Prior to that Mary was a teacher with St. Michael’s House in Dublin.  Mary has served on many Special Olympics international committees and chaired the International Advisory Committee for four years. She was one of the main driving forces behind Ireland’s bid to host the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2003.
Currently she serves on many committees and boards including the Irish Sports Council,  Broadcast Commission of Ireland, ICS Building Society, Dublin Airport Authority, National Sports Campus Development Authority and The Irish Times Trust and in April 2006 was appointed by the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern as Chair of the Taskforce on Active Citizenship. 
Mary has represented the Irish Government climbing Mount Blanc on the 1st July 2008 to celebrate the start of the EU Presidency in France.  Mary is married to Julian Davis and has four children, two daughters and two sons.