Canvassing late and texting early as desperate candidates try everything

Late-night canvassing and early-morning text messages were just some of the last-minute attempts by election candidates to get…

Late-night canvassing and early-morning text messages were just some of the last-minute attempts by election candidates to get their message to constituents before they went to the polls yesterday.

Labour candidate in Dublin North Central Derek McDowell and his supporters left 5,000 bottles of water on constituents' doorsteps yesterday morning.

The bottles were emblazoned with a "Vote No. 1" message for Mr McDowell, who lost out on a seat by 200 votes in the last election.

"It's a final reminder to people about the importance of voting and voting Labour to ensure a change of government," he said.

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In Clare, supporters of Fine Gael councillor Madeleine Taylor-Quinn were still delivering election literature in Ennis at 2am yesterday.

Last month, the councillor distributed free bottled water to people in Ennis in an attempt to highlight the poor water quality in the area.

Clare constituents also received several text messages from other candidates yesterday morning, including one from Fine Gael's Joe Carey before 8am.

In Wicklow, Independent candidate Evelyn Cawley sent voice mails and text messages to more than 800 electors, having collected the mobile numbers while canvassing.

Candidates such as Louth Green Party councillor Mark Dearey organised free buses to allow students to return home to vote.

105-year-old Dan Keating did not need a bus to take him to vote in Castlemaine, Co Kerry, yesterday morning. The sprightly Breeda Moynihan-Cronin supporter said he believed he was the oldest person to walk to a polling station to vote yesterday.

Alison Healy

Alison Healy

Alison Healy is a contributor to The Irish Times