The Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin is in Leitrim this evening after having canvassed in Sligo earlier today ahead of the general election on Feb. 8th.
After an interview on Ocean FM’s North West Today Show this morning, it was out on the canvass trail, starting from the offices of outgoing TD Marc MacSharry in Stephen Street in Sligo.
His first visit was to two third-level colleges, St Angela’s College in Clogherevagh on the shores of Lough Gill, a constituent college of NUI Galway, and then on to IT Sligo, which is progressing toward becoming part of a technological university in the north west.
The Fianna Fail leader then returned to Sligo city centre, doing a walkabout in what was ideal canvassing weather . . . cold, crisp and dry.
From O’Connell Street, he entered the Tesco arcade, meeting and greeting those present in O’Hehir’s Restaurant.
But on his way there, he didn’t escape buying a raffle ticket for Sligo Rovers . . . former TD, Minister, Tanaiste and EU Commissioner Ray MacSharry made sure of that.
It was then into the Johnston Court Shopping Centre and back onto O’Connell Street again.
During a visit to Wehrly’s Jewellers, a fourth-generation family business, Richard Wehrly spoke to Deputy Martin about the difficulties caused by the 23% VAT rate.
In O’Hehir’s Restaurant on Grattan Street, he had this response for a man concerned about low wages and pensions for those in the Defence Forces.
In nearby Clarke’s Butchers, Keith Clarke told Deputy Martin about the difficulties caused for boat users who are unable to land on Inishmurray Island because of concerns over safety by the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport.
He also visited EJ’s Menswear and Aladdin in Grattan Street.
And in the Record Room, proprietor Aidan Mannion told Deputy Martin that even though Dublin was booming, he should not forget the west of Ireland.
From Sligo town, Deputy Martin travelled onto south Sligo, base of outgoing TD Eamon Scanlon.
There, Deputy Martin canvassed shops and houses in Tubbercurry and Ballymote.
It was then onto Leitrim, where the Fianna Fail candidate is Shane Ellis, son of former TD and senator John Ellis.
In Carrick on Shannon, Deputy Martin canvassed shops and some estates, before going onto Longford, where he will stay tonight.
