A Modest Republic.

A Myth Reawakened.

A Future Forged in Soul.

Ní Neart Go Cur Le Chéile

About Aodh mac Cumhaill

Born in Canada, raised in Ireland, evolved abroad.
Living and teaching overseas for nearly a decade, I watched the soul of our nation dim from afar. I left a comfortable life as a highly respected academy teacher in South Korea because I saw that Ireland, and much of Europe, were entering a crisis.

Now returned, I see clearly: Ireland is not broken. It is buried.
And beneath the noise and neglect lies a mythic fire—of language, modesty, memory, and joy.

This campaign is not for power.
It is for guardianship.
For dignity remembered.
For unification without uniformity.

In my lifetime there have only been inspirational presidents. Mary Robinson, Mary McAleese, and Michael D. Higgins. Each carried the office like a quiet flame. To follow in their path, to meet them, learn from them, and carry that light onward, would be the honour of my life.

I am running to remind.
To revive.
To listen.
To blaze quietly, and bring the world to hear our song.

Project 35

For Every Young Irish Soul Who Thought They Were Too Far Gone

Project 35 is for every young Irish person who thought they missed their moment.
For every soul under 35 who spent more time surviving than building. For those who barely made it through school, addiction, depression—or silence—and never imagined they’d have a future, let alone a voice.

I was one of them.

And yet, here I am.
At 35—the minimum age to run for President of Ireland—and I’m running.

By 35, you were supposed to have it figured out. But some of us only learned how to crawl at 18, and were gone by 27. Some of us didn’t get guidance, protection, or purpose until far later.

This project is a message:
There’s still time to turn it around.
To reclaim dignity.
To lead, even if you were once lost.

I never meant to leave Ireland. But to survive, I had to.
I built a quiet, good life in Korea — one I planned to stay in. I learned to heal. I learned to build. I learned to believe that the future could be better than the past.

And yet, when I looked back across the sea, I saw Ireland as I once was — hurting, isolated, unsure she still had a future worth fighting for.

I knew I couldn’t stay away.

I had to come back — to share what I had learned.
To remind her — and all of us — that healing is real. That dignity can be reclaimed. That it's not too late to build something stronger than what was broken.

The Presidential Cultural Fund

Breathing Life Into Ireland’s Future

Originally, I planned to request a reduction in the President’s substantial €330,000 salary. However, like most government funds, I realized it would be better managed directly — giving it back to the people in one of the most important ways I could think of: fueling a true cultural revival.

Therefore, if I am elected, up to half of the President’s salary will be dedicated to launching a new era of Irish creativity. Regular competitions will be held in the following areas, with family-friendly submissions required to ensure all generations can participate and celebrate together. Submissions ás Gaeilge will be strongly preferred.

  • Animation: Developing original concepts or reimagining’s of ancient Irish myths, producing storyboards to a high professional standard, with the aim of securing collaboration with top-tier animation studios in Japan and around the world.

  • Sceálgrafs (Irish Comic Books and Graphic Novels): Ireland has given the world poets, playwrights, and dreamers—but we barely have a footprint in one of the fastest-growing global storytelling mediums. With Sceálgrafs, we can create our own powerful, original tradition of illustrated stories—fusing Irish myth, history, and imagination for national and international readers.

  • Modern-Traditional Music Fusion: Supporting musicians who fuse Irish instruments with popular genres such as EDM, metal, pop, hip-hop and R&B, etc. This also goes for instrument manufacturers who can create something new and ingenious. I want to know if a distorted electric harp weeps or squeals. Who is going to write the EDM ceilí banger that will be a household name at every school in Ireland?

  • Film and TV Projects: Encouraging original Irish storytelling in mainstream cinema and series. Where is our TV series about the humble GAA school boy who dreams of being an all-star? Where is our cinematic masterpiece of Brian Boru's struggle as the last uncontested King of a united Ireland before its decline?

  • Literature & Irish Mythology: Forging new myths in the Irish tradition through novels, stories, and theatre. Where is the legend born in Mayo bogland or a Connemara storm? Where is the epic that speaks to our people now — and still feels ancient?

Additionally:

I’m a young man, and I intend to keep working. The presidency is not my retirement plan—I’ll donate at least half, and if needed up to 100%, of the pension to prove that this role is a cultural mission, not a personal escape hatch.

I will encourage the Government of Ireland to help support and fund this movement, along with appealing to wealthy Irish individuals and successful artists to contribute. I will also appeal to champions of these crafts to assist in the judging, as I am only one man. I will seek to introduce incentives and tax benefits to those who contribute to give contributors a sense of tax sovereignty.

Let us give back to the country that made us.

Let our ancient history evolve and become more powerful than ever, and may our aspiring young artists have something true and worthy to work toward.

This is not just about entertainment. It's about giving Ireland a future where its soul is not forgotten, but reborn — stronger than ever.

The arts must not just survive — they must thrive. Here's where we begin.

3 Pillars of the Campaign

While the executive powers of the President of Ireland are limited, these are the core areas I will champion and bring national focus to.
They are not my only concerns — far from it.
When issues arise, whether widely known or hidden from public view, I will never shy away from speaking clearly and honestly about which outcomes I believe best serve the people of Ireland.

Pillar I: Health and Well-Being

Healthcare You Can Access. Food You Can Trust. Futures You Can Build.

  • Build accessible, affordable, and efficient healthcare focused on real cures — through healthy lifestyles, nutrition, and community fitness. Tax junk food to subsidize farming and fresh food. Secure housing as a foundation for physical and mental health — and for family formation. Prioritize connection and purpose in mental health care, not just pharmaceuticals. Keep Irish health decisions in Irish hands, not EU markets. Create incentives that empower young couples to start families and increase our declining birth rate.

Pillar 2: Information and Education

Real education doesn't just fill minds. It builds character, strength, and wisdom.

  • Education built on real skills — critical thinking, health and financial literacy, leadership. Blend Korean drive with Finnish balance. Teach resilience, leadership, and psychological strength. Connect youth early with trades, arts, and workplaces. Focus on rehabilitation over imprisonment, defend education sovereignty, and protect free media.

Pillar III: Culture and Language

Securing Irishness — Evolving Our Soul and Sharing it With the World.

  • Revive the Irish language through pride, education, and world-class storytelling. Modernize music and myth for global platforms. Root youth in real history and living heroes. Support Irish families with homes, grants, and cultural strength to combat rapidly declining Irish birth rates. Manage immigration properly to protect Ireland’s spirit, and defend national sovereignty with pride and independence.