Bob Geldof’s life has been characterised by confounding expectations but an Áras run would be an astonishing career change

In the summer of 1985, Bob Geldof paid a visit to Áras an Uachtaráin. He was being honoured by president Patrick Hillery for the work he had done in making Live Aid happen. Millions had been raised for Ethiopian famine relief and his fellow Irish people were, by far, the greatest per-capita donors.