Electing Bob Geldof as President of Ireland would be “disastrous”, Shane Coleman has said. 

The musician and humanitarian activist recently contacted Taoiseach Micheál Martin to ask if Fianna Fáil would consider nominating him in the Presidential Election. 

In a courtesy call, Mr Martin informed him that his party would not be nominating him as their candidate. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, presenter Shane Coleman predicted that a Bob Geldof Presidency would be “disastrous”. 

“Bob Geldof, he’s done extraordinary things - I’m not criticising him,” he said. 

“He hasn’t lived here since the 1970s? What does he actually know about Ireland?

“I think there was a really interesting quote, ‘I want to do something new, stimulating and useful.’ 

“Like, take up chess; this is the Presidency.” 

Bob Geldof in 1984. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Fellow presenter Ciara Kelly was less dramatic and said it would certainly enliven the election. 

“I’m not going to lie, I’d love to see him in the race,” she said. 

“It would make it far more exciting.

“He’s known on international stages in a way that nobody else in the field is.” 

Áras an Uachtaráin. Picture by: Alamy.com.

In a statement to Newstalk following his rejection by Fianna Fáil, Mr Geldof said there was "nothing really to say at the minute".

"Everything up in the air," he said. 

"Lots of things to be considered personally, professionally etc.

"Will absolutely come back to yis once things firm up. Thanks. Bg." 

On the question of who Fianna Fáil will ultimately nominate as their candidate, Shane predicted that former Dublin GAA Manager’s nomination is a “done deal”. 

“If the party leader wants Jim Gavin and the whole Cabinet is backing him, I think Billy Kelleher has no prospect of winning,” he said. 

“That would be my assessment of it.” 

MEP Billy Kelleher is still hopeful he has a route to winning the party’s nomination, however Shane added that the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party is coalescing around Mr Gavin. 

“You pick who is going to win,” he said. 

“I’m going to be honest here, I don’t think Billy Kelleher can win the Presidency. 

“Particuarly now, you’ve got to reach beyond the core vote. 

“Fianna Fáil’s core vote is about 15%, maybe 20%, you’ve got to reach beyond that core vote. 

“Jim Gavin does that, Billy Kelleher doesn’t.”

Main image: A split of Shane Coleman and Bob Geldof. Pictures by Newstalk and Alamy.com.