*Kevin Hassett (IND) with canvassers in Kilrush.
RIGHTLY or wrongly Kevin Hassett (IND) won’t back down from a fight even when the odds are against him.
After securing 448 first preference votes in the Kilrush LEA in June, Kevin needs to multiply that figure by at least fifteen to be in contention for a Dáil seat.
It’s lunch time in Kilrush on Saturday afternoon and it doesn’t take long for Hassett to refer to The Electoral Chair: Election Debate when he was questioned on his claims that Cllr Dinny Gould (IND) has backed his campaign when in fact Gould denied he had canvassed for the candidate when speaking to The Clare Echo.
A phone call to Cllr Gould by Hassett doesn’t help his cause as he intended as the questioning he puts to Dinny outlines that the Cree man has indeed not canvassed for the Independent as uncovered at the debate, he has erected posters for him and another General Election candidate.
His frustration prompts Hassett to say, “Shur Páraic hates me” when speaking with a Kilrush business man.
Relaying what has been raised with him most on the canvass, Kevin points to the hospital and immigration, “the same thing is coming up the whole place”. He believed a primary care centre is needed in West Clare along with his view for a new hospital in Ennis on a greenfield site.
Bowman’s Lane lunch-time rush is interrupted as Kevin and his canvassers distribute leaflets. A canvasser of Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) is among those sitting down to enjoy some food. “He is a local man,” is the message from the team.
Apologies are extended to an elderly man sitting down with his bacon and cabbage, “anyone that can help us isn’t annoying us,” is the reply.
In the town, a canvasser of Hassett’s points out a suspected incidence of drug-taking in the town while remarking, “why aren’t you reporting on that”.
On a more positive note, one shop has said they are running on “Christmas sales” in the months of September and October.
En route to Queally’s SuperValu, the second election attempt of the Kilkee man is pointed out, “you’re off again, you’re stone mad for canvassing”. He noted that with twenty candidates in the field “anything could happen” but offered his regards as two of the votes from their house are unavailable on Friday.
“What is he standing for,” asks a shopper. Kevin explained, “Ennis A&E is the big thing, we are going to Limerick too much for emergencies” and added that “closing the borders” is a priority.
One working woman believed the population of Kilrush was rising with plenty of new faces. “Schools that have closed down are opening up and shops are being kept open, that is not a bad thing but we can’t get carried away with the facts that there isn’t a shed to be got around here”.
Increasing pressure on GP services and the shortage of dentists in the county are also flagged. “We need a good voice in Co Clare,” is the message hammered home. So strong is the message that Kevin commented, “she could be a politician”.
UHL “is scary and the last place people want to go,” said the daughter of a woman who spent hours on a trolley. “I personally think Donnelly should have retired over Aoife Johnston,” commented Hassett, “who does the blame lie with”.
A male pensioner was against all the giving out, “people are all cribbing but we’ve more money in the country than we’ve ever had”.
Lack of sporting facilities to try keep people in West Clare and the setback of missing out on funding for an indoor sports complex in Kilrush are also raised with the Independent.
“You’re the first man to ask for my vote so you will get it,” revealed a Mullagh man who questioned the seasoned dairy and beef farmer on his policies for farmers.
He replied, “We are overburdened with emissions. The problem with emissions is the overburdens on tax and it is crippling us down”. Policies need to be revisited as they are not sustainable, he argued. “I’m not against us playing our part, we’re trying to get somewhere too fast. Trying to drop a degree and a half, with all targets only 30-60 percent that we’ll get there. They are unavoidable targets. America and China are not playing their part. We’ll end up crippling the sector”.
“We need representation here, we’ve no Town Council. We’ve no voice in the town at the moment only Ian Lynch. Our medical services are miles away from Limerick, we have to rely on a helicopter and go to Limerick, I’m speaking from experience. I will be voting for Kevin Hassett, Tom Nolan and Rita McInerney,” said one West Clare woman on the campaign trail.
“Did you hear that,” a beaming Hassett pointed out to The Clare Echo without clarifying if he would get the first preference over Nolan or McInerney.
