*Cllr Gabriel Keating’s (FF) car is pulled from the floods in Quilty.
CANDIDATES battled the elements on day fifteen of the General Election campaign in Co Clare.
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West Clare was the focus of the house calls for Dr Tom Nolan (FG) who hit Quilty and Doonbeg where roads were beginning to flood making matters difficult for motorists and canvassers.
Among those impacted was Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) who could have done with a boat instead of his stylish red Audi which got stuck in Quilty. “It was worth getting wet to get Tom elected,” Keating told The Clare Echo while confirming damage had been done to his car”.
Flash flooding impacted on several roads across Clare but there was a flash mob with Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) in Ennis. It is the first time that a General Election candidate in Clare has partook in a flash mob as part of their campaign as the sounds of Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ echoed across the county town. Garvey’s campaign has been further boosted by an endorsement from Steve Wall of The Stunning while Jack Wall O’Reilly winner of the Paul Mescal look-alike competition also joined her canvassing team.
Sixmilebridge Mart was visited by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) and Eddie Punch (II) on their travels.
2020 Biodiversity Farmer of the Year, Joe Melody (FG) has endorsed the campaign of Cllr Cooney who later canvassed Ennis where he was joined by Sean Kelly MEP (FG) and Cllr Mary Howard (FG).
Punch visited Scariff where he was joined by family members on the canvass and he pointed out, “It’s always nice to meet your relatives, near and distant, especially when it’s not a funeral. Canvassing for number ones is tough work but there’s always an upside”.
Dooley’s canvass also hit Sixmilebridge, Shannon Town Centre and parts of Ennis Town.
Also in Ennis was Michael Loughrey (IP) who when trying to win over votes spoke out against vaccines, fluoride in water and tried to explain why he as a Nationalist doesn’t speak Irish.
Matthew Moroney (IND) was in Ennis where some of his canvassers managed to get lost like priests from Fr Ted in what was Ireland’s largest lingerie section in Dunnes Stores.
Kilrush was the focus for Kevin Hassett (IND) who met with shoppers at Queally’s SuperValu and popped into businesses in the town when promoting the message of electing a West Clare representative.
“Such a dynamic candidate in this part of the county” was how Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) was described by MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú in Shannon Town Centre where party stalwart Robert Frost (FF) was also in attendance. Rita was also in Quin, Labasheeda and Coolmeen.
Lack of accommodation options for third level students to live independently while studying as highlighted on The Electoral Chair: Election Debate was the topic of discussion in Paddy Murphy’s (IND) musings from Lahinch. “We have a crazy situation in Clare where most of our college students are commuting in and out of Clare where they are being deprived of the college experience and living off on a tin of beans”.
Outgoing TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) appeared on Saturday with Colm Ó Mongain discussing matters including disability supports.
Local election candidate, Fiona Levie (SD) who is also Chair of the Social Democrats has unsurprisingly come out to encourage people to vote for Hilary Tonge (SD).
Leonora Carey (FG) was in Sixmilebridge and she received an endorsement from retiring TD, Richard Bruton (FG).
Home comforts saw Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) stay in Shannon with Cathal Crowe TD (FF) in Kilrush, Killimer and Kilkee.
Also appearing on the ballot paper in Clare are, June Dillon (AON), Michael Leahy (IFP), Amanda Major (IND), Catriona Ni Chatháin (SOC) and Barry O’Donovan (RAB).
