Sir, – I would just like to say that I am not at all impressed with the timing of the upcoming election. I can see no justifiable reason for calling an early general election. There is still so much that could be done by the current Government if it were to see out its full term. And we have just had the worst possible outcome in the US presidential election, so what we need now is stability and not a change in Government.
I will making my feelings known at the ballot box as, I think, will many, many others. However, I am still expecting the talking heads to express complete surprise at the eventual outcome after the counting is complete. They got the outcome of the US election wrong. How wrong will they be in our own election? – Yours, etc,
ANTHONY MORAN,
Bundoran,
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Co Donegal.
A chara, – Has a political poster ever changed the mind or convinced a person which way to vote in a general election? Already Galway city, and no doubt the entire country, is swamped with political posters but to what end? Surely the internet is a far more persuasive and cost-effective tool. These posters are such an irritation and in many instances it is the same poster separated only by a couple of unsuspecting lampposts. Do candidates believe our memories are this short? Galway city Cllr Mike Cubbard topped the Galway City Central poll during the local elections last June without using a single poster. So this demonstrates political posters are not a necessity to become a victorious candidate. I believe the majority of the electorate detest these posters, from all political persuasions. – Is mise,
JASON POWER,
Salthill,
Galway.
Sir, – Here we are again, a general election and already we have people carping about the premature appearance of election posters.
Surely every possible method of involvement in the democratic process should be applauded, not castigated.
Some political activists really do believe that the rest of the population have the same intense interest in politics and elections as themselves. They therefore also pressed for the absence of all electioneering material from near polling booths. However, there are many who need reminding and a blast of colour on election day is that reminder.
Anyway, what’s the big deal about posters on a lamppost? Aren’t we surrounded by advertising everywhere we look and this is only a little extra. – Yours, etc,
ANTHONY HANRAHAN,
Renvyle,
Co Galway.
A chara, – The Taoiseach has finally taken the ball on the hop and called the election. But could it be that the Harris hop has already lost some of its bounce and by election day could even have slowed to a Simon slide? – Is mise,
JOHN GLENNON,
Hollywood,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Any candidate who gets their poster team to sweep up the ankle-deep leaves on the paths in Booterstown, while they go about their important work, gets my vote. That’s an election promise. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL KEEGAN,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Yesterday the President signed the warrant to dissolve the Dáil.
I was under the impression that he had done this a week ago, given the number of posters which have gone up in the area and the number of pamphlets that have come in through the front door. – Yours, etc,
ANTAINE O’DUIBHIR,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – A gentle reminder. Canvassing may disqualify. – Yours, etc,
FRANK J BYRNE,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Now that the election has been called, what swing counties should be be keeping an eye on? – Yours, etc,
HELEN NOONAN,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.