Plea for poster-free Presidential election campaign in Mayo
A Mayo councillor is calling on political parties to refrain from putting up election posters across the county in the lead-up to the presidential election.
Cllr Ger Deere, who also serves as Chair of Castlebar Tidy Towns, made a public appeal at the latest meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District.
He urged candidates and political parties to respect the wishes of local communities and clean-up groups who work to keep towns and villages clean.
"In light of the presidential election, I'd ask any political parties that are running posters - no posters," Cllr Deere said.
He explained that the call is not just coming from Castlebar, but from a wide range of Tidy Towns committees and community organisations throughout Mayo.
These groups have come together to push for a cleaner, poster-free environment, particularly in high-traffic areas.
"A lot of Tidy Towns groups and other organisations around the country have come together to ask for no posters, particularly on main routes into towns and villages," he added.
Cllr Deere, a Fine Gael representative, is urging his own party colleagues, as well as Fianna Fáil and Independent representatives, to set an example by supporting his call.
Election posters, while a traditional part of Irish election campaigning, have long been a point of contention in many communities.
Critics have pointed out that they contribute to litter, can distract drivers, and ruin the aesthetic look of a town.
With growing awareness of environmental concerns and community pride, more areas across the country are advocating for voluntary poster bans in towns and villages during national campaigns.
Cllr Deere's appeal adds to a growing national conversation about sustainable and respectful campaigning practices. While the request is not legally enforceable, it is hoped that parties will respect the request in the spirit of community cooperation.
The three candidates for the presidential election were officially confirmed this week, each were nominated through the traditional Oireachtas route.
Campaigning has officially begun, as the three nominees will travel the country over the coming days in an attempt to convince the public they are the right person to become the next President of Ireland.
Heather Humphreys for Fine Gael, Jim Gavin for Fianna Fáil, and Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who has the backing of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Green party, the People before Profit-Solidarity party and other Independent TDs.
The presidential election is set to dominate national headlines for the next month, but for local volunteers keeping Mayo clean remains the top priority.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.