Irish presidency 'significant' to Island

While people in Ireland are at the polls today to elect a new president, director of communications at the Celtic League Bernard Moffat has been reflecting on what this means to the Isle of Man.

Mr Moffat said that in current times it was crucial for the Island, both politically and economically, to establish stronger links with the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

He also highlighted the historical significance of the Irish President’s relationship with the Isle of Man, saying that in the late 1940s Éamon de Valera almost single-handily saved the Manx language.

Among the seven contenders for the presidency are Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness and former Eurovision singer Dana Scallon.

Voting began at 7am and by the early hours the country should find out the successor to the Áras.