The voluntary ban on all election posters during the Volvo Ocean Race is a chance for candidates to show they have the interests of the city at heart by refraining from “plastering their own faces up and down the length” of the Green Dragon Route.
This is the view of the Green’s Galway City Central candidate Máiréad Ní Chróinín.
Despite Monday’s city council meeting passing a motion by Independent Cllr Donal Lyons for a voluntary ban on all election posters during the Volvo Ocean Race, the Greens are still concerned that many candidates will not adhere to it.
Green Cllr Niall Ó Brolcháin, speaking after Monday’s meeting, said the Green Dragon Route - from the Docks out along the Prom - may be covered by election posters despite the voluntary ban.
“Because some Independent and Labour councillors opposed the motion,” he said, “we are left in a situation where the Green Dragon Route may be covered by the election posters of those candidates.”
Ms Ní Chróinín criticised the claims of some councillors that it was “undemocratic” not to allow postering.
“To state that election posters are a key element of democracy is just nonsense,” she said. “People are supposedly voting on issues, and who best they think can represent them. The idea that you can convey all that through a face on a poster is ridiculous.”
Cllr Ó Brolcháin and Ms Ní Chróinín have volunteered not to place posters anywhere on the Green Dragon Route.
However a dissenting view was offered by Independent Galway City Central candidate Mike Cubbard.
“I am entitled to put my posters up in an effort to let the electorate know who is standing before them in the election,” he said. “I should not be discriminated against for doing so.” He alleged that the poster ban was an attempt to “bully independents and new candidates”.
Nonetheless Mr Cubbard said he will respect the Green Dragon Route and will not put any of his posters in the Dock area and Eyre Square.
Independent Cllr Catherine Connolly said she was concerned that councillors would seeki to ban posters in response to a request from the organizers of the Volvo Ocean Race.
“To place the wishes of a small group of businessmen above the need to engage people in the Local and European Elections is shocking,” she said. “I will proudly use posters to inform people that I am standing for Election and what I am standing for.”
