By Mike BrayThe signs of the recession can really be seen on Saturday mornings in Navan shopping centre because of the small numbers out shopping on what is usually the busiest shopping day of the week.
Ms Mairead McGuinness, Fine Gael MEP for the East constituency, who is seeking re-election to Brussels in the June vote, was out canvassing with her team and some supporters in the busiest shopping area in Navan and the busiest shopping complex in Co. Meath. Saturday morning would be known as a peek time for shops. It felt more like 9am on a Tuesday morning rather than 12 noon on a Saturday.
Many members of the McGuinness team who were handing out leaflets were left standing idle for long periods of time at the main entrance to the shopping centre as only a few shoppers rambled in. The small number out in Navan was described as "scary" by one member of the McGuinness camp.
Ms McGuinness, who was joined by her Fine Gael colleague Meath West TD Damien English, was shocked by the poor crowds and decided after a while to venture onto the main street to see if there was a larger volume of people to put her message across to. But the story was the same around the more traditional shops on Main Street and Ms. McGuinness soon returned to her team’s base at the shopping centre.
Also noted was the lack of young people shopping in Navan despite most shops having reductions or sales.
