Taoiseach targets North Tipperary in bid to regain Fine Gael seat

The image of Taoiseach Simon Harris visiting a store in Nenagh to test a new pair of shoes underlines the importance of comfortable footwear as election candidates begin wearing out soles on marathon walking trails through highways and byeways in a bid to win the hearts and minds of voters.

The general election campaign is well under way, with the Taoiseach himself doing a walk through the streets of the North Tipperary capital town on Friday last in an effort to boost the campaign of his local Fine Gael candidate, Dr Phyll Bugler.

Mr Harris visited a number of shops where he spoke with business owners and customers, hoping to persuade them to give Cllr Bugler a Number 1 as Fine Gael try to win back the local seat it has failed to regain since Noel Coonan’s victory back in 2011.

Among the stores the Taoiseach visited was The Shoe Corner at the Market Cross. The image of Mr Harris inspecting a pair of shoes was an apt symbol that points to  the many miles candidates will walk in the coming weeks in a quest to persuade voters to give them a priority tick on ballot day.

North Tipperary has traditionally been seen as a weathervane constituency - results here from past elections generally pointing to how parties will ultimately fare on a national scale.

It’s therefore little surprise that the Taoiseach should choose to visit North Tipperary and its capital town at such an early stage in the campaign.

There appears to be a big push in Fine Gael to get Cllr Bugler elected, as hot on the heels of the Taoiseach's visit, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Martin Heydon was in Nenagh Mart on Tuesday of this week to campaign with Cllr Bugler and to meet with members of the North Tipperary branch of the IFA.

FIANNA FÁIL TO RUN TWO

The constituency has also been very much the focus of the country’s second most powerful political leader, Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who has been speaking about the decision announced last Friday by his party to run two candidates, Michael Smith and Ryan O’ Meara, in North Tipperary.

“The selection of Cllr Ryan O’Meara and Cllr Michael Smith provides a very strong ticket in North Tipperary for the party,” said Mr Martin.

The Tánaiste added: “This is a very balanced ticket, bringing a mix of fresh ideas and established experience, and I believe both Cllr O’Meara and Cllr Smith would make great additions if elected to Dáil Éireann.”

On that prospect of Fianna Fáil winning two seats, it would seem the party face a tough challenge.

The last time it was achieved was in 2002 when the father of one of the current candidates, Michael Smith, snr., along with Maire Hoctor took two seats for Fianna Fáil.

The image of Taoiseach Simon Harris visiting a store in Nenagh to test a new pair of shoes underlines the importance of comfortable footwear as election candidates begin wearing out soles on marathon walking trails through highways and byeways in a bid to win the hearts and minds of voters.

The general election campaign is well under way, with the Taoiseach himself doing a walk through the streets of the North Tipperary capital town on Friday last in an effort to boost the campaign of his local Fine Gael candidate, Dr Phyll Bugler.

Mr Harris visited a number of shops where he spoke with business owners and customers, hoping to persuade them to give Cllr Bugler a Number 1 as Fine Gael try to win back the local seat it has failed to regain since Noel Coonan’s victory back in 2011.

Among the stores the Taoiseach visited was The Shoe Corner at the Market Cross. The image of Mr Harris inspecting a pair of shoes was an apt symbol that points to  the many miles candidates will walk in the coming weeks in a quest to persuade voters to give them a priority tick on ballot day.

North Tipperary has traditionally been seen as a weathervane constituency - results here from past elections generally pointing to how parties will ultimately fare on a national scale.

It’s therefore little surprise that the Taoiseach should choose to visit North Tipperary and its capital town at such an early stage in the campaign.

There appears to be a big push in Fine Gael to get Cllr Bugler elected, as hot on the heels of the Taoiseach's visit, the Minister of State for Agriculture, Martin Heydon was in Nenagh Mart on Tuesday of this week to campaign with Cllr Bugler and to meet with members of the North Tipperary branch of the IFA.

FIANNA FÁIL TO RUN TWO

The constituency has also been very much the focus of the country’s second most powerful political leader, Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who has been speaking about the decision announced last Friday by his party to run two candidates, Michael Smith and Ryan O’ Meara, in North Tipperary.

“The selection of Cllr Ryan O’Meara and Cllr Michael Smith provides a very strong ticket in North Tipperary for the party,” said Mr Martin.

The Tánaiste added: “This is a very balanced ticket, bringing a mix of fresh ideas and established experience, and I believe both Cllr O’Meara and Cllr Smith would make great additions if elected to Dáil Éireann.”

On that prospect of Fianna Fáil winning two seats, it would seem the party face a tough challenge.

The last time it was achieved was in 2002 when the father of one of the current candidates, Michael Smith, snr., along with Maire Hoctor took two seats for Fianna Fáil.

Cllr Michael Smith, jnr., is a strong candidate, being a consistent poll topper in local elections in the Roscrea-Templemore area over the past two decades.

His father, a former senior Government minister, and a poll topper in general elections on a number of occasions, built up a very strong political support base during an impressive  career that spanned five decades. A lot of that support exists to this day, and his son will now be relying on that backing again while also standing on his own work record as a long serving councillor.

Michael Smith, jnr., contested the 2016 general election in the full Tipperary constituency, securing a very respectable 6,718 first preference votes. He ultimately managed to stay in the race until the fifth of a total of seven counts, in a contest that saw one of his running mates Jackie Cahill, the current outgoing and retiring Fianna Fáil TD, elected.

Reflecting on his ratification as a candidate by party delegates at a convention in Templemore on Friday night last, Cllr Smith said it is an honour to be selected by the party.

“To be given the opportunity to potentially follow in my father’s footsteps and be a solid and steady voice for my constituents at a national level, is something that really drives me on,” he said.

Smith stated: “I have been a reliable and committed councillor to my constituents for over 20 years in Tipperary County Council and I will work relentlessly for my constituents in Dáil Éireann.”

YOUNGEST CANDIDATE

Cllr Smith’s running mate, Ryan O’ Meara, was elected to Tipperary County Council on his first attempt in the Local Elections last June. Aged 29, he is the youngest councillor in the Nenagh Municipal District, and he says that one of his principal aims, if elected, will be to be a strong voice for young people like himself who cannot afford a home of their own.

Speaking after his ratification, Cllr O’ Meara said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been selected to contest the next General Election for Fianna Fáil.

“I pledge to bring new and fresh ideas to the national table on behalf of my constituents. I am very passionate about my job as a councillor, I love helping people, and after working as a Parliamentary Assistant [to Jackie Cahill] for the last four years, I will bring that forward with me if elected to Dáil Éireann,” he said.

POLL-TOPPER?

Meanwhile, Independent Michael Lowry, aiming to top the poll in the election, just like he had done on every occasion since 1997, launched his campaign in front of large crowed in The Ragg, Thurles, on Friday night last. Contesting on the slogan “Actions with Results”, Mr Lowry said one of his main aims if elected will be to continue to ensure that the economy of North Tipperary continues to grow and prosper.

In recent days another candidate has announced that he will be standing in the constituency. Roscrea native Peter Madden will be running under the National Alliance umbrella.

KELLY HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES

Elsewhere, Labour’s outgoing TD and former MEP and senior minister Alan Kelly, giving feedback on what he is hearing on the doorsteps during his canvass, said  anti-social behaviour across North Tipperary is one of the most serious issues occupying the minds of people at the moment.

“Having been on the campaign trail and canvassing for weeks, it is the issue along with heath and housing that keeps coming up on people’s doors,” he said

“People, young and old are concerned about walking the streets of our towns - and not just at night. They feel that there isn’t enough gardaí on the beat or even a physical presence from them.”