Presidential hopeful Kevin Sharkey has praised the work of controversial United States President Donald Trump and, in a remarkable address today, insisted that Ireland must be kept ‘predominantly white’.
The Killybegs artist was speaking to Carlow County Council, seeking their nomination to run for Áras an Uachtaráin.
To audible surprise in the room, Mr Sharkey drew comparisons between Trump and John Wayne.
“He swaggered in and was like ‘where are the broads at?’,” he said.
“Trump isn’t any more likeable or unlikeable than any of the other US presidents. We had Bush and his father. He hasn’t killed as many people as the rest of them.”
Mr Sharkey said that he would put ‘Ireland first’ and said that ireland needed to ‘wake up’ to the threat of immigration.
“It’s not racist to have a conversation about immigration without the fear of political correctness taking away our rights,” he said.
“I’ve spent my entire life being told what racism is and isn’t. Everybody hated somebody. In the end I had to look at myself, are you racist? I was sceptical of some communities.”
He said he had a vision for Ireland as being ‘predominantly white’.
Businessman Gavin Duffy, Senator Joan Freeman and former Aer Lingus worker Patrick Feeney also addressed the council.
Speaking to RTÉ, Mr Sharkey said the Office of President had become akin to a ‘retirement home’ and that ‘rural Ireland’ would be top of his agenda.