There is one thing that can be said about these recessionary times we live in, and that is that it seems trees are still in abundance. Or at least they were before the race towards the current elections began. I can only speak as an inhabitant of the North West when I say this, but the faces of the candidates for the European and local elections, due to take place on the 5th of June, seem to be everywhere. I’m sure the scéal is mar a chéile timpeall na tire áfach.
I bumped into Declan Ganley and Jim Higgins in Craughwell during the week, well, the poll they inhabit together in the village. They were smiling like you wouldn’t with your best friend, not a notion of an apology out of either of them. You’d swear they hadn’t recognised me. It was over the fiftieth time Jim had seen me that day, and as for Declan, well his face got more common as I proceeded to Galway, though I do remember having a few glimpses of his ten foot face only two weeks ago, again whilst travelling to Galway from Athlone.
I lost count of election posters between Athlone and Inis Oírr this week on two hundred and eleven. I got tired. Those smiling faces were delightful but at one point just outside Oranmore I wondered to myself how Padraig MacLochlain smiled that same inviting smile in each picture; and then I realised that I was going crazy.
What really baffles me, after my intensive research into this topic, is the lack of differentiation between local and European candidates in their posters. How is someone who could not write a thesis on this topic to know that the Fine Gael European Election Candidates have green posters and the local election have blue ones?
Some of the local election candidates’ posters that I did see, and I do refer to the Independents at this, were great. A posse of A4 sheets in plastic polly pockets around Ballinasloe was my favourite campaign by far. I think it shows character.
One girl I spoke to in Athlone was confused. She has stopped trying to decide who to vote for on merit, or apparent merit, and has resigned to judging the candidates on looks. Some candidates obviously fare better in these stakes than others.
Most recent popularity polls show Daithí Mac an Locha is swimming miles ahead of any political party in his race towards the Duck Derby as a result of his eye catching poster campaign.
