This article is from page 12 of the 2014-06-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
AS THE time has past to remove all election posters and plaquards from the county’s streets and roads, some candidates have complained that discarded posters are miraculously appearing again.
During the run up to the local and European elections there were the usual complaints that posters were removed from where they were positioned by campaign teams.
Now as the last votes have been counted “silly season” is setting in again as once disappeared posters are reappearing.
Forgotten election posters still on posts and polls will cost candidates € 150 per poster from now on.
Such fines are issued by Clare County Council’s Environment Department.
In a bid to avoid such fines some candidates have taken to social media asking people to report any sighting of posters.
Ennis Labour candidate Seamus Ryan was particularly disturbed that a poster he removed from Abbey Street a week ago was back again a day later.
“I found one that had been put up on a pole in Abbey Street car park by someone other than a member of my campaign team.
“I know it was put up by someone other than us for two reasons.
“Firstly I personally removed the poster from that very pole on Monday last.
“Secondly no candidate puts the cable ties to the front of the poster, it blocks the name,” he said, publishing a photo of the offending poster on Facebook.
“This is a level of pathetic vindictiveness we really don’t need in local politics.
“Somebody really wants me to get a € 150 fine (that’s per poster), if you see any more up please let me know,” he appealed.
Election poll topper in Shannon Cathal Crowe (FF) was equally concerned about his posters remaining up the poll.
He was among a number of local election candidates using the new communication of social media to remove the more traditional form of communication.