*Pat Breen (FG) and Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).
TALK TO JOE is the election slogan of Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) and it’s ringing true with his phone hopping from house to house.
Kilmaley’s meeting with Cratloe in the U21B hurling semi-final means the meeting point for Cooney’s Clonlara canvass is switched from the GAA grounds to Scoil Seanáin Naofa on Sunday morning.
Cooney is managing who goes where before their team diverts on different routes. “He is something else,” observes former Junior Minister, Pat Breen (FG) who has been a central figure in the background of the campaign, “I don’t know where he gets the energy”.
Keeping up with Joe is a challenge as he seems to epitomize the ‘New Energy’ slogan of Fine Gael during the election. “It is great to have the energy these days,” he says to former Clare hurler and ex Clare camogie manager Colm Honan who pulls over in the car when he spots the O’Callaghans Mills man.
A man from the south side of Dublin is very positive at the door on the performance of Fine Gael. “Fine Gael are doing great and are getting my vote” while praising the introduction of the school meals and books plus the powering up grant.
Small businesses “really appreciate” the grant, Cooney confirms. “There is a lot happening and a lot of people working together and most important is to look after the people that are working”. The Fine Gael supporter replies, “as our ex leader said it’s the people who get up early in the morning”.
More support is needed for the farming community, says Cooney. He believes housing has overtaken health as the biggest issue in Co Clare due to the difficulties encountered by people in getting onto the property ladder. “Housing is gone bigger than health in terms of a crisis,” he stated.
On the time he spends on the doors, Cooney said, “naturally enough it varies, some people are happy to take a leaflet and some people want to discuss issues”.
There has been no representation from working families, says a father of three young children. “We don’t feel represented and we get no benefits,” he commented while stressing they are not looking for benefits but feel frustrated by the ease at which they are thrown out to people not bothered to work. “I am happy for Sinn Féin to stay in opposition,” he said as he admitted there was no political party willing to represent the working people.
A visit to the house of Cllr Michael Begley (IND) also forms part of the route but the former Mayor of Clare has been sent out to get the ingredients for the Sunday dinner. “We won’t know till Saturday, you’re well used to it,” he tells Begley’s wife Fidelma.
“I don’t know why you are out, you’ll be in no trouble,” observes a political follower from Clonlara. “I’d like change, I like to keep people on their toes,” he said while pointing out his dissatisfaction with the spend on the Leinster House bike shed, phone pouches for primary schools and the lack of supports for children with disabilities. A “tight line” of candidates from Meelick to Tulla is going to make matters interesting, the homeowner maintained.
How Cooney’s profile is growing on social media is put to the former Mayor of Clare, “I took a crash course on social media from Paudie,” he quips when pointing to this writer.
Cooney has been “very good” to one particular family who welcome him in to sit down at the kitchen table. “He works very hard,” noted the lady of the house.
Hard-working Cooney returns to the car as the canvass in Clonlara concludes and the demand to ‘Talk to Joe’ continues with the phone ringing again as he goes.
