Not throwing in the towel just yet as Humphreys makes a pitch for the undecided during visit to Sligo with party leader Harris
The Sligo ChampionHeather Humphreys pictured during this afternoon's canvas in Sligo. Photos: Donal Hackett
Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys was in Sligo town this afternoon ahead of the country going to the polls tomorrow. Photo: Donal Hackett
Tanaiste Simon Harris with Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys in Sligo this afternoon, Thursday. Photos: Donal Hackett
Tanaiste Simon Harris pictured with former Sligo/Leitrim TD Tony McLoughlin and current TD, Frank Feighan during today's canvas for Heather Humphreys in Sligo. Photos: Donal Hackett
Heather Humphreys pictured during this afternoon's canvas in Sligo when they stopped in Wehrly Bros jewellers. Photos: Donal Hackett
Tanaiste Simon Harris pictured canvassing for Heather Humphreys this afternoon in Sligo. Photos: Donal Hackett
Heather Humphreys pictured during this afternoon's canvas in Sligo with Tony McLoughlin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Cllr Thomas Walsh. Photos: Donal Hackett
Heather Humphreys pictured during this afternoon's canvas in Sligo with Deputy Frank Feighan, Tony McLoughlin and Cllr Thomas Walsh. Photos: Donal Hackett
Tanaiste Simon Harris pictured with Heather Humphreys this afternoon in Sligo. Photos: Donal Hackett
Tanaiste Simon Harris pictured with former Leitrim County Councillor Finola Armstrong McGuire. Photos: Donal Hackett
Presidential hopeful Heather Humphreys issued a rallying call to supporters and voters who may still be undecided when she visited Sligo town on Thursday afternoon. Flanked by Fine Gael party leader and Tanaiste Simon Harris, Sligo/Leitrim Depuity Frank Feighan and former TD Tony McLoughlin, Ms Humphreys insisted she is fighting until the end.
Deputy Frank Feighan, Heather Humphreys, former TD Tony McLoughlin and councillor Thomas Walsh on a walkabout through Sligo on Thursday.
Walking along Wine Street, the entourage consisting of politicians and canvassers, was greeted by friendly faces and smiles and that only grew as they made their way down O’Connell Street where countless people – men and women, young and old, stopped for a quick word with Ms Humphreys.
Describing herself as a centrist candidate who is proudly pro-European, Ms Humphreys insisted she is not throwing in the towel despite the opinion polls suggesting the race is a foregone conclusion. If the honking of horns and messages of good luck from passing well wishers was anything to go by there is plenty of support for Ms Humphreys and in such a small field her team is hoping Fianna Fáil’s disastrous campaign could prove pivotal for their campaign.
As the canvassers made their onto Grattan St. the amount of cars slowing down for a chat with the Presidential hopeful grew as lunch time traffic became a bit busier than the average Thursday.
While the Humphreys team was admiring the interior of EJ Menswear and talking with staff and customers alike, Tanaiste Simon Harris took a moment to speak to The Sligo Champion as he urged undecided voters and Fianna Fail voters to offer their support to Heather Humphreys.
“I think there is a huge amount of people undecided and we saw that last night in the poll, one in five voters, so we are really encouraging people to come out and exercise their vote and also, particularly for people who might have hoped for a broader ballot, Fianna Fail people who might be sad at the twists and turns and I understand that, on this occasion to lend their vote to Heather Humphreys.
"Michael D Higgins wasn’t meant to win according to the polls and he won well and he won twice so it is all to play for here but it is really important that people get out and vote. It is also so important that centre ground, middle Ireland people come out and back Heather Humphreys as the centre ground candidate tomorrow.”
Insisting that everything remains very much to play for the Tanaiste said, “The fight is going on until the very end because no one has cast a ballot. I think 44% of people who voted in the last Presidential election, it is really important people actually get out and vote and like I say, even today in Sligo I am meeting people who are still making up their mind and that is perfectly fine. It is maybe unusual this close to an election and people are saying they are going to vote but they are still thinking of which way to vote, and that is why we are here in beautiful Sligo, albeit on a wet and rainy afternoon.”
The campaign team were greeted by more well wishers, with more than a few exiting shops, to catch a quick word or a glimpse as they made their way along Castle St. There were jokes about a tattoo to commemorate a victory as they passed a tattoo studio before turning left along Water Lane and Rockwood Parade.
Returning to the pedestrianised part of town helped ease traffic matters for motorists but some negotiating the cobbled pedestrianised areas found themselves caught up in lunch time drama as the assembled tv crews followed Ms Humphreys and her team. A quick stop in Grappa brought the visit to Sligo to a close before the Humphreys team departed for Donegal where the race to secure votes continues ahead of the polls opening tomorrow morning.