Decision time for West Clare voters

WHEN General Election candidates call to people in West Clare in the coming weeks, what issues are likely to be raised on the doorsteps? According to The Clare Champion vox pop carried out in Kilrush last week, the unemployment crisis, reform of the Dáil and Seanad, an end to parish pump politics, investment in education and the future of Ennis hospital are the concerns that candidates are likely to hear about in Kilrush and throughout West Clare.

Although national road allocation figures were announced last week, the state of roads in villages like Carrigaholt and Labasheeda, along with numerous back roads throughout the region, are also likely to be broached.
The continued absence of a hotel in Kilrush, which would play a role in selling Kilrush as a viable town for investment and conferences is still an ongoing issue.
Undoubtedly, the dominant issue is the lack of employment opportunities in the region. West Clare was largely reliant upon the construction industry for the majority of its employees. The collapse of that industry has led to skilled tradesmen either having to emigrate or to seek employment in a different sector.
The candidate who will feel that he best understands the issues facing people in the region is Jim Connolly, Independent, because he lives in Kilbaha, which is as far west as you can get.
However, at 74 years of age will he be capable of connecting with people decades younger, who are struggling to survive financially week on week?
Fine Gael TD Pat Breen has a constituency office in Kilrush and markets himself as a public representative for the west. Yet, having been a TD since 2002, what achievement can he point to in the west of the county, as something that he helped to bring about?
Independent candidate Brian Markham from Kilmurry McMahon–Coolmeen, who was interviewed this week by The Clare Champion, will have to reap a huge amount of votes from first-time voters to have a chance. Aged just 23, older voters may feel that he doesn’t yet have the experience required to represent the county in Dáil Éireann. However, it will be interesting to see if he takes some votes from Pat Breen in Coolmeen, Cranny, Kilmurry McMahon, Labasheeda and Kildysart, which are strong areas for the Ballynacally TD.
Fianna Fáil candidate, John Hillery will also be actively seeking a sizeable return in West Clare due to his base in Miltown Malbay. Given he has lived and worked in Dublin for 40 years however, will he be capable of convincing people of his local credentials?
Of course, all of the election candidates will be looking for votes wherever they can get them. Yet if Jim Connolly, Pat Breen, Brian Markham or John Hillery are to get elected, they will need to harvest a plentiful vote in West Clare, given their respective geographical locations.
This may depend on their answers to the questions that await on the doorsteps and streets of West Clare.