Enda Kenny on whistle-stop visit to Athlone
by Danielle Harney Updated: Wednesday, 9th February, 2011 5:30pm
Will you be my... election candidate? Enda Kenny presents a rose to Senator Nicky McFadden during their visit to Golden Island on Tuesday. Photo: Molloy Photography.
The last-minute erection of Fine Gael posters around Golden Island signalled the imminent arrival of party leader Enda Kenny to Athlone as part of his nationwide canvass yesterday afternoon.
A cheer rose up from assembled supporters when local candidate Senator Nicky McFadden arrived just minutes before her leader. Longford Deputy James Bannon and the second Westmeath candidate Cllr Peter Burke also arrived just in time as Mr Kenny pulled up in his car outside of the shopping centre with the national media tailing behind him. Looking relaxed and confident, he happily posed with babies and children as local councillors and supporters surrounded him.
Mr Kenny told the Westmeath Independent that he was delighted to visit Athlone to canvass with his “formidable team” in the Longford/Westmeath constituency.
“I’m delighted to be canvassing in Athlone. This is part of our travels around the country to explain to the people what we want to do to get Ireland working again,” he said.
When asked would any of the local candidates be promoted to Ministerial positions if elected to government, Mr Kenny was coy.
“I couldn’t possible answer that question, it would be absolutely presumptuous,” he said. “We’re down here to explain to the people of Longford/Westmeath why they should vote for Fine Gael candidates and here in Athlone you have a brilliant candidate in Nicky McFadden. She’s done a wonderful job in the Senate. She’s a person for the next generation, the new generation of young people taking up politics and we support her very strongly and along with Peter Burke in Westmeath and James Bannon in Longford, this is our formidable team down here.”
One secondary school student wanted to do more than be an on-looker however.
Anthony Keane, 17, a Leaving Cert student in Athlone Community College questioned Mr Kenny about his party’s policies on teaching Irish.
Mr Kenny listened carefully to the student and discussed his ideas. Anthony said that he thought Irish should be taught more like foreign languages whereby students are stronger in oral and aural aspects. Mr Kenny said that if his party was in government, students would get more points if they studied Irish at higher level.
Speaking afterwards, Anthony said he enjoyed Irish as a subject and would like to become an Irish teacher.
Mr Kenny then left for Roscommon Town, but not before presenting Ms McFadden with a rose.
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