Ireland: The colourful pasts of Irish presidential hopefuls

http://www.euronews.net/ Ireland's presidential battle has sprung into life with an array of colourful candidates - and controversies surrounding a senator and gay rights campaigner, and a former IRA commander.

With another of the runners and riders an ex Eurovision winner, the largely ceremonial post is attracting more attention than usual.

Dana Rosemary Scallon, better known simply as Dana, won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970. Her campaign stresses Christian family values.