The bar has been set so high by Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese and Michael D Higgins that, sooner or later, some incumbent will not be the most popular person in the land. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill Pulling names from a hat. This is what Irish democracy was reduced to in recent months as the media conducted virtual auditions for the next Uachtaráin na hÉireann. Joe Duffy, Linda Martin, Conor McGregor, Mary Hanafin, Fintan O’Toole, Michael McDowell, Heather Humphreys, Barry Andrews, Michelle O’Neill, Seán Kelly, Frances Fitzgerald, Mick Wallace, Geraldine Byrne Nason, Colum Eastwood, Frances Black, Peter Power, Peter Casey, Cynthia...