In the Irish presidential election of what year, outgoing President Patrick Hillery agreed under enormous political pressure to seek a second term, though Seán MacBride, a former Nobel Peace Prize and Lenin Peace Prize winner, made it known in the newspaper that he wanted to contest the office,  an Irish government minister, a prominent international politician and a Chief of Staff of the IRA?
Seán MacBride Seán MacBride (26 January 1904 – 15 January 1988) was an Irish government minister, a prominent international politician and a Chief of Staff of the IRA.
Irish neutrality during World War II The policy of Irish neutrality during World War II was adopted by the Oireachtas at the instigation of the Taoiseach Éamon de Valera upon the outbreak of World War II in Europe. It was maintained throughout the conflict, in spite of several German air raids by aircraft that missed their intended British targets and attacks on Ireland's shipping fleet by Allies and Axis alike. De Valera refrained from joining either the Allies or Axis powers. While the possibility of not only a German but also a British invasion were discussed in the Dáil, and either eventuality was prepared for, with the most detailed preparations being done in tandem with the Allies under Plan W, De Valera's ruling party, Fianna Fáil, supported his neutral policy for the duration of the war.