*An Taoiseach Simon Harris (FG) is welcomed to Ennis by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) and Pat Breen (FG). Photograph: John Mangan
AN TAOISEACH, Simon Harris (FG) hopped into town as the benefits of choosing to “Talk to Joe” were referenced by the Chief Executive of Clare County Council.
Ballot Beats is The Clare Echo’s daily General Election (GE24) update where we will have observations on the campaign and see how issues of the day are impacting on candidates in Clare.
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Day seven of the campaign included a visit to Clare from the Taoiseach as Simon Harris (FG) was in the county to officially open the €17m de Valera County Library in Ennis. Among the political talking points from the event was the use of the line “Talk to Joe” by Clare County Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling, the official slogan of Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).
Harris’ arrival gave a big lift to the Fine Gael trio of Cooney, Leonora Carey (FG) and Dr Tom Nolan as he brought a fanfare to the county town as they did a whistle stop tour of the businesses in Ennis Town Centre. Patrick Bourke made a small presentation of socks to the Taoiseach, there was no superglue in the bag given to the Wicklow man following Bourke’s previous comments he’d superglue the snag adjacent to his menswear store if it becomes a hive of anti-social behaviour as a result of the public realm works.
Among the other gifts received by the Taoiseach were a signed sliotar from Tommy O’Donnell, a kiss from a local hairdresser and accusations of being “a traitor” by one elderly woman.
He later canvassed with Dr Nolan in Kilrush who said it “was an honour” to have the Taoiseach “visit Kilrush today showing his strong support for West Clare and getting to meet so many of you. It would be a privilege to represent you all as your Clare TD”.
Dr Nolan was among the political figures to attend the official opening of the de Valera library along with Cllr Cooney, Carey, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), Cathal Crowe TD (FF) and Senator Roisin Garvey (GP).
Outgoing TD Crowe visited St Senan’s NS in Shannon where he has been working to get a Department of Education grant where he has been working to reconfigure an old part of their school building for use as a special education classroom and was joined by the Killeens, Tony and Cllr Joe when canvassing North Clare again.
On her canvass, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) covered Shannon Banks and Westbury. Lissycasey was the focus for Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) who attended the local GAA club’s superdraw for a car with Limerick man Derek McDonagh winning a new Kia sportage. Ennis was the focus for Hilary Tonge (SD).
Michael Leahy (IFP) today called for the border poll to be brought forward. “I increasingly get the impression that the Ulster Protestant people know that the days of a separate northern state are numbered. It is in their interest to seek a long-term accommodation which will resolve the constitutional separation of the two parts of Ireland. We in the south must be extremely generous in reaching out to the Ulster Protestant population. We must provide them with significant autonomy to manage their own affairs. In a state as highly centralised as we are this will represent a significant challenge to our thinking and will require a new constitutional architecture”.
Nomination papers were submitted by Caitriona Ní Cathain (PBP/SOL) and Violet-Anne Wynne (IND).
Wynne was also in Clare FM’s studios along with Eddie Punch (II) and Amanda Major (IND) for their latest mini-election debate on Morning Focus where topics included wind energy and health.
Also appearing on the ballot paper in Clare are, June Dillon (AON), Kevin Hassett (IND), Michael Loughrey (IP), Matthew Moroney (IND) and Paddy Murphy (IND).
Friday also saw the release of the latest episode of The Electoral Chair where Patricia McCarthy (IND) a former Mayor of Clare and councillor for thirty five years and Gerry Reidy (FF) Fianna Fáil’s Director of Elections gave excellent insight and analysis.
