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JAMES Breen, John Hillery, Michael McNamara and Timmy Dooley are ranked one, two, three and four in terms of Clare General Election candidate web visibility. But what does this really mean and will it translate to votes?

All of Ennis’s homeless have been housed, according to homeless activist Josephine O’Brien. In the past six months, eight homeless people have been accommodated, according to Ms O’Brien, of the HELP organisation for the homeless.

THE time has arrived. The candidates have had their say and their fate now lies in the hands of the voters who will pass through the doors of polling stations in 43 constituencies all over Ireland this Friday for the 2011 General Election.

We will have to get used to addressing Enda Kenny as Taoiseach. Sounds good if you’re a blueshirt or from Mayo. He will be the first Mayoman to achieve that high office, although a former taoiseach, one Charles Haughey, also had some Castlebar connections – apart, of course, from the fact that Enda’s wife, Fionnuala, was Charlie’s press officer back in the 80s.

It is not only bitter experience that is making me want to avoid making a prediction about this week’s General Election vote in County Clare. I obviously wish to sidestep a repeat of the last ballot when I got the call utterly wrong but in this case I am genuinely unable to feel a real leaning with regard to the outcome of the vote.

WHEN you visit your polling station, you will more than likely be known to the presiding officer but just in case, it would be no harm to have some form of identification with you. When you get your ballot paper, make sure there is a stamp on it. The presiding officer stamps each paper but sometimes the stamp does not mark the paper. Everything else can be in order but without the stamp it will be classed as an invalid vote.

SIR – As Mayor of County Clare, I am very much aware of the strategic needs of the county as expressed by councillors at county council meetings.

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