Few of us who lived through US election night 2016 will ever forget it. For me, it happened at an election watch party in St James’ Gate, hosted by the US Embassy, and attended by people from every part of Irish life.
As the television networks were making their calls on a state-by-state basis, the mood was becoming distinctly downbeat. Hillary would not break through the ultimate glass ceiling after all. Misogynist, sexist and narcissist Trump was heading for victory.
That night haunts me. As someone with dual citizenship, as a lifelong Democrat and a campaigner on equality, I had openly backed Hillary, casting my vote using the postal system. At that moment I knew that next time, voting would not be enough.