Martin stalks Enda’s stomping ground

PRESSING THE FLESH?Fianna FΡil leader MicheΡl Martin is pictured with candidates in the West Mayo Municipal District and their supporters outside the Clew Bay Hotel on James Street in Westport last week. ?Pic: Henry Wills

Martin takes the rough with the smooth after warm Westport welcome


On the campaigh trial
Anton McNulty

If Fianna FΡil MicheΡl Martin was feeling his job was under threat he was showing no signs of it as he basked in the spring sunshine during a stroll around Westport while on a whistle-stop tour of the county.
On a warm sunny spring afternoon in Westport, the Cork man seemed to enjoy his stroll around the town and apart from one encounter, he received a warm and courteous reception. He is an old hand at this canvassing game and knows how to schmooze the locals. “I can see why it was voted the best place to live in Ireland,” he told delighted locals.
The party leader was in town to campaign for the Westport candidates, Brendan Mulroy and Joan Geraghty in the west constituency, while the other constituency candidates Paul Mc Namara, Tommy Joe Jennings, SeΡn Carey and Frankie Leneghan were also tagging along.
At times it was more like lagging behind, as they struggled to keep up with the Cork man’s long stride. When they did catch up with him, he was dragged around like a rag doll from one business to another to meet potential voters. One of the stores he visited was Elverys whose staff were in the middle of sorting out the Mayo GAA shelves. Ever the Cork man he couldn’t but mention that they’ll be stocking Cork jerseys by September.
Any visit to Westport cannot be complete without the customary photo-shoot on the bridge. During the shot, Martin half joked he was afraid of falling into the river to which one of the entourage mischievously replied: “It’s ok, John McGuinness is nowhere near you.” Luckily for him his leader has a sense of humour.
Ballina TD Dara Calleary had the job of chaperoning the party leader and ensuring he stayed on schedule. “Keep him on this side of the street, we are under pressure with time,” he urged but Brendan Mulroy was having none of it. Spying two men across Bridge Street he assured Martin, “these are good lads, come over and talk to them.” “Keep going,” replied Dara but he was too late as Brendan was quickly escorting his leader across the street.
Dara was otherwise enjoying his visit to west Mayo and could not resist having a dig at the ‘stream’ running through the town referring to it as a ‘toy-town river’ and ‘not a patch on the Moy’.
So far the stroll through the town was going good for the Fianna FΡilers with Martin even having time to take time off his schedule to pop into McGreevey’s for a 99 with a flake for himself.
However he had barely a lick taken from his ice cream when he was approached by a man who wanted to give his 50 cents. He lambasted Martin for his role in the banking crisis and the high number of suicides he claimed were as a result of it. MicheΡl reassured him he was aware of the problems but the man was having none of it.
“It was your crowd who told the country to go and commit suicide well I hope he’s happy drinking his pints in Dublin,” he said presumedly in reference to Bertie.
Despite this, Michéal Martin managed to negotiate his way to the Clew Bay Hotel without any further hassle where a posse of supporters were waiting to greet him before being whisked off by Calleary to his Ballina heartland in north Mayo.