*Kevin Hassett (IND). Photograph: John Mangan
ON THE fourth full day of the General Election campaign, RTÉ cameras rolled into town while a former General Election candidate has rowed in behind two of the Independents in the field.
Ballot Beats is The Clare Echo’s daily General Election (GE24) update where we will have observations on the campaigning and issues of the day impact on candidates in Co Clare.
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Two of the female candidates in the field, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) and outgoing TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) were among those to be interviewed by RTÉ’s Mid-Western correspondent Cathy Halloran.
Indeed there was a warm embrace from Deputy Wynne for Halloran when she arrived at her constituency office in Parnell Street in Ennis as she welcomed her to the county town with a hug, some local members of the fourth estate would be satisfied to just get the opportunity to conduct an interview with the Offaly native before the General Election takes place.
Clare FM have begun a new series of mini-debates in advance of polling day on November 29th. The first three candidates to feature were Cllr McGettigan, outgoing TD Cathal Crowe (FF) and Leonora Carey (FG) where housing, health, tourism and education were among the topics covered.
Carey took her canvass to the streets of Shannon with members of her team on the Tulla Rd, she said of their plans for housing, “We’re making it simpler and faster for those navigating the process of buying a home in Clare, aiming for an eight-week turnaround from ‘sale agreed’ to keys in hand”.
Cllr McGettigan paid a visit to Obair in Newmarket-on-Fergus where she saw first-hand the work done by staff and volunteers operating the Meals on Wheels service.
Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) has lauded the arrival of Obair’s Meals on Wheels service to Inagh this week and the Deputy Leader of the Green Party was in Dublin on Tuesday as the party unveiled its election manifesto.
2020 General Election candidate, Joseph Woulfe (IND) confirmed to The Clare Echo that has rowed in behind Matthew Moroney (IND) and Kevin Hassett (IND) to support their campaigns.
Kilmurry was the focus of Senator Timmy Dooley’s (FF) campaign while the release of a new online video by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) has stood out as arguably the best promotional clip by a Clare candidate to date. Dr Tom Nolan (FG) was canvassing in Ennis and bumped into former Fine Gael councillor, Johnny Flynn during his travels along the Tulla Rd.
To date it hasn’t been the most dramatic campaign but Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) did manage to take a break from canvassing to open the stage at the Doonbeg Drama Festival.
Lack of a GP in the village of Newmarket-on-Fergus and school transport were the big issues brought to the attention of Hilary Tonge (SD) when she was in the village. June Dillon (AON) has been promoting Aontú’s immigration policy.
Paddy Murphy took a trip to the Daniel O’Connell Monument in Ennis for some inspiration and suggested it be the location for the first debate of the campaign while pointing out there “isn’t a sign of a workman” when studying the public realm works in the county town. “I love the urgency and the way they have an understanding of small business”.
Amanda Major (IND) has her posters up around Ennis. “Visibility and awareness” are the reasons for election posters, she said. “Posters help candidates become recognizable, especially to voters who might not actively follow election news. This visibility is key to building name recognition not to flood the roads with it”.
Other candidates appearing on the ballot paper in Clare include; Michael Leahy (IFP), Michael Loughrey (IP), Catriona Ni Chatháin (SOC) and Eddie Punch (II).
