Locals concerned with local issues

Locals concerned with local issues


Edwin McGreal

A BITING breeze rips through the plains of Kilfian as the Loftus cavalcade that has travelled the highways and byways of the parish since early evening reaches its final destination.
Five hours after setting out in the search for number ones, the offer of a warm cup of tea is greeted with the same gentle smile that the Fianna Fáil candidate has presented at every door on the canvass.
On this occasion, the polite reply is positive and Michael Loftus, his canvassing companion, the affable local electrician Pat Murphy, and yours truly, cross the threshold where the warmth of the welcome sends a healthy glow rushing back into cold, pale cheeks.
The campaigning team has been so well received all evening that the offer of refreshments could easily have been taken up 20 or 30 times over.  Such generosity and kindness is no more than one would expect from the denizens of the hamlet.
Kilfian, nestled between Crossmolina and Moygownagh to the south and sheltered from the Atlantic coastline by Ballycastle, Killala and Lacken, is a typically rural north Mayo village.
It is characteristic rural issues – hedges and potholes, road widening and representation – that are repeated on the doorsteps, house after house. And there is no exception to this rule - despite a substantial national swing against the government leaders.
Local people, local issues and local candidates are foremost on the mind of the electorate in Kilfian, like much of north Mayo. And it’s the ‘local’ message that Loftus is preaching.
“I’ll promise only one thing - that my door will always be open to everyone in the community, regardless of political affiliation or preference, and that I’ll do my best to resolve people’s problems and difficulties” is the mantra at every doorstep.
“If I can help, I will help. If there is nothing I can do, I’ll be honest about it and say so,” he says with a steadfast assuredness.
Everything about Michael Loftus’ canvass is local and for everyone he meets along the way he has a local tale to tell.
Whether it be reminiscences of accompanying Grandad Munnelly on his Travelling Shop as they sold their wares from farmyard to farmyard in the 1960s or fresher memories of struggling on the last mile of the inaugural Aidan McDonnell Memorial Sponsored Cycle 12 months ago, the Crossmolina man can relate to all who cross his path.
At the very few doors where the face is not immediately known, the name most certainly is. His father, former President of the GAA Dr. Mickey, is a legend in these parts. More tales are told of favours done and services provided much to the pride of young Michael.
“Sure we’ll have to look after Dr Mickey’s son, wasn’t he looking after us for long enough,” is a solemn promise declared at many doors.
So revered is the quintessential  north Mayo man in Kilfian that he had the honour of performing the official opening of their splendid all-weather pitch, coincidentally taking place five days after Michael’s canvass, on Sunday afternoon last.
Despite these strong family connections, through the Loftus’s and Munnelly’s, Michael is far from taking Kilfian or any other area for granted. With intense competition in the Ballina Electoral Area the first time candidate must work that bit harder than the opposition to secure the sufficient number of votes required and he knows it. The notebooks filled with representations from constituents now numbers five since the canvass began.
Every issue and every problem is noted carefully and though not yet elected, people are visibly impressed by his attention to detail.
“I am enjoying the canvass,” is the reply when quizzed about how it’s going.
“I enjoy meeting people at their own homes and listening to their experiences, good and bad. I want to help people in the local community but to do effectively I have to get elected. Kilfian is only down the road from my home base in Crossmolina but I can’t take anything for granted. I will need as much support as possible to get across the winning line.”