THE most famous car in Clare looks set to be used by the new President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins on his first official visit to the county where he was reared.

THE most famous car in Clare looks set to be used by the new President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins on his first official visit to the county where he was reared.
Mayor of Clare Councillor Pat Hayes is supporting calls for Eamon de Valera’s black Dodge to be made available to the former Labour deputy who was elected President on Saturday, when he returns to the Banner County.
If, as expected, the mayor’s plans come to fruition, Mr Higgins would become the third president to use the car,  built by the Crysler Corporation Company in 1947, following in the footsteps of Sean T O’Ceallaigh and Eamonn de Valera.
Councillor Hayes predicts the use of the car by Mr Higgins, who is the third President with strong Clare links, would help efforts to dramatically increase the tourism potential of the car, which is currently in the foyer of the de Valera Library in Ennis.
“I am delighted another Clare man has been elected as President of Ireland and I look forward to seeing him enjoying the space and luxury provided in Eamon de Valera’s car. This would be a great marketing and public relations event for the county and would help to boost tourism in the future,” he said.
The skills of motor mechanic, Councillor PJ Ryan, ensured de Valera’s black Dodge is gleaming again following months of restoration work earlier this year.
Councillor Ryan, who has offered to drive the new President around Ennis, insists the Dodge is roadworthy and would be ready with a battery charge and a fill of petrol.
“Michael D is entitled to get a spin in de Valera’s car considering he is the third Clare man to become President. The car has all the symbols of the presidency, the Tricolour and a badge on its roof so it would be more than suitable to be used by the new President,” he said.
Meanwhile, in his acceptance speech, the new President pledged he would dedicate his abilities to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland. He attacked the materialism displayed during the Celtic Tiger years and said he saw and felt the pain of the Irish people during almost 14 months of campaigning.
“I recognised the need for a reflection on those values and assumptions that had brought us to such a sorry pass in social and economic terms. I recognised the righteous anger but I also saw the need for healing and to move past recrimination.
“I love our shared Ireland for its core decencies, for its imagination and its celebration of the endless possibilities for our people that are there for the achieving as we leave behind a narrow individualism, that valued the person for what was assumed to be their accumulated wealth but neglected the connection between the person, the social, the community and the nation,” he said.