‘DON’T FORGET RURAL IRELAND’
TO borrow an old phrase, all politics is local, and this is especially the case on Valentia Island where what was done locally counts just as much as any policy Cllr Norma Moriarty may or may not have.
Any ‘ number one’ votes will come down to what she has achieved for those on the doorsteps , proving that party politics is not everything on a campaign trail.
Roads, the local graveyard and social housing in the region are also of huge importance, as is what Cllr Moriarty has achieved in these areas while on the council.
A rural canvas is very different to that of a town canvas – not least the ground to be covered and the amount of votes garnered for the lengthy campaign involved. But for Cllr Moriarty, Valentia Island is home territory and, so, one of her main vote-catching areas.
However, geography hampers Cllr Moriarty’s Dail run given the low population of her home region, and this is evident on Valentia on Friday. The island has a population of around 600 according to local sources, but a percentage of those do not have a vote in the general election.
Many houses stand empty as they are holiday homes and are only used during the summer months. The lack of potential votes is one of the reasons that Valentia has been ignored by many candidates during the election campaign, and many houses informed Cllr Moriarty that she was the first candidate they had met this time around.
Leaflets had been dropped to some homes for the other candidates, but many households had not met any candidate to raise their concerns, and they were happy that someone had come to their doors at least.
This, too, is Cllr Moriarty’s mantra: a voice for South Kerry, which has not had a local Dáil representative since Fianna Fail’s John O’Donoghue lost his seat in 2011.
Nine years on, Cllr Moriarty is hoping that she can become a voice for her local area, that has faced lack of employment and subsequent depopulation.
“Our sons are thousands of miles away and what are you going to do about it? We are grandparents too,” said one voter.
“We are forgotten about down here in rural Ireland,” lamented another who had moved to Valentia, and this refrain was repeated throughout the canvass.
Health is definitely a key topic for this general election: it has been raised repeatedly on the doorstep throughout and was on the minds of those in Valentia as well. Waiting lists, medical cards and the home care system, which is vital for rural areas, all came up.
One voter explained that they had to seek help from a politician to bring their mother home.
Anti-social behaviour and community policing were also on the agenda; it seems there are concerns in this far corner of Kerry about squatting and increased anti-social behaviour.
Drugs were also raised, as were the youth of today and fears for their future, as well as the plight of working families.
Being prepared for eventualities on the campaign trail is key for any candidate, and Cllr Moriarty was more than ready to discuss issues on the doorsteps, bringing people’s attention to issues as much as they brought issues to her attention.
Again, health was a key point of discussion in this particular regard.
Childcare issues were also raised just days ahead of a planned protest from this sector.
The green agenda is also a key topic on the campaign trial, and more than a few houses indicated their plans to vote ‘green’.
“You are not shouting enough about the [green issues],” said one voter.
The presence of two female candidates for the same party and with the same first name has also confused some voters in Kerry.
Cllr Norma Foley and Cllr Norma Moriarty have become known as the ‘Two Normas’ on the campaign trail, and Cllr Moriarty wants her voters to be clear where she is on that all-important ballot paper next Saturday but without doubt she has a few number 1s if voters keep their promises.