Galway Advertiser 1997/1997_10_23/GA_23101997_E1_024.pdf 

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Presidential campaign 1997
Banotti makes it, just
By Mary Conroy FINE GAEL candidate Mary Banotti's campaign trail went slightly awry on Monday as a number of difficulties meant that the Dublin MEP had to miss some appointments in the county. Arriving in triumphant style at the presidential debate held by the Political Discussion Society in NUI. Galway that evening, Banotti explained that she would not have made it to the city at all that night if the society had not provid ed a driver to drive her from Limerick. She had been scheduled to travel to the west by helicopter, landing at Tuam Sports Ground at 4pm and meeting with the press at was due to arrive. Banotti's campaign office confirmed earlier this week that the Fine Gael candi date had been looking for ward to campaigning in the county, but had been advised against travelling by helicopter because of The receptionist in the the bad weather conditions on the east coast. hotel where the press engagements were due to However, a spokesperson take place had not been for Banotti said she was told of Banotti's scheduled greatly looking forward to visit, and was taken by sur campaigning in the city prise at the news that she tomorrow. 4.15pm in a local hotel. However just as word was filtering through that the candidate would not be arriving, it became clear that elements of east Galway were unaware that a potential future president had been due to come.

McAleese campaign in Galway kicks oft with media scrum
- By Mary Conroy MARY MCALEESE'S campaign in Galway got off to a controversial start with the fracas surrounding the candidate's entrance at a rally at the Great Southern Hotel in Eyre Square, making national headlines. sively," she said. Responding to charges that the press had been pushed aside by a scrum of supporters, McAleese said that it had been a general crush and that she herself had been "manhandled" in the crowd. Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Eamon O Cui'v branded the leaks "scandalous", and warned against endanger ing the work of those who work behind the scenes. McAleese told the assem bled FF and PD supporters that Galway, for her, repre sented a particular side of Ireland - the young thriv ing side of Ireland. It was a place, she said, where "tradition and progress went hand in hand," the embodiment of the values which had placed Ireland at the "cut ting edge of technology" and a global success story.

N a l l y ' s w i s h f o r v o t e s f o r s c h o o l kids
By Keith Kelly P R E S I D E N T I A L CANDIDATE Derek Nally arrived in Eyre Square on Monday evening to a rapturous wel come from 60 or so supporters who had been waiting patiently for over an hour for the retired garda to arrive Nally arrived in Galway via heli copter, touching down at the Corrib Great Southern Hotel where he stayed overnight. Before arriving in the city centre Nally, who had a tor rid helicopter journey in very windy conditions, went into the hotel to compose himself before his walka bout in Galway city. When he eventually arrived at the Browne's Doorway end of Eyre Square it coincided with the arrival of the Adi Roche Presidential tour bus which pulled up outside the Great Southern Hotel at the other end of Eyre Square. The two candidates bumped into each other outside the Abrakebabra fast food outlet at the corner of Eyre Square and stopped for a few minutes to exchange words, wishing each other well in the presidential debate scheduled for NUI Galway that night. A huge laminated banner was held up by supporters as Nally gave inter views to the waiting camera crews before setting off on a walk around the city centre, meeting people fin ishing work and late shoppers along the way. Passing motorists honked their horns when the passed the congrega tion in Eyre Square, presumably in support of the former president of the Garda Representatives' Association. He shook hands with people of all ages as he made his way down Williamsgate Street and Shop Street, and after one brief chat with a young schoolboy how he must wish school children had the right to vote. While walking past Brennan's Shoe Shop in Shop Street he posed for a photograph with 12-years-old Dara Conboy from Rahoon Road who goes to St Patrick's National School on Lombard Street. Whilst talking to Nally the young-, ster informed him that his class in, school had held a mock presidential election and that he, Nally, emerged as the runaway victor, much to the delight of his supporters who raised a huge cheer when told the result. It was then onto Park House Hotel, for dinner and a chance to gather his thoughts before then going on to theb sports centre in NUI Galway for the. presidential debate which was hosted by last year's national university society of the year, NUI Galway's Political Discussion Society. .

Just 24 hours after the publication of the contro versial Department of Foreign Affairs memos implying McAleese had close ties with Sinn Fein, one of the candidate's first appearances since the reports had appeared was eagerly anticipated. However waiting journal ists were to be disappoint ed as a battery of enthusi astic supporters surged for ward to bear the Fianna Fdil and PD nominee to the podium before an estimat ed crowd of 400. A press conference, which was due to be held at the Skeffington Arms Hotel some time before the rally, was cancelled at the last minute. But the press were allowed access to the can didate at the end of the rally at an impro ques-

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The rally provided gov ernment deputies with the Ireland, she said, will opportunity to lash the become an even more unknown sources of the important player at an leaks, with Minister for international level, bestow State Bobby Molloy brand ing a new importance on ing whoever had leaked the the role of president which documents as "evil minded will take on a more crucial people" endangering the role. peace proces for short-term The candidate also made political gain. special mention of her affinity for young people and her grasp of the fea tures of the information age. citing her intention to said he considered il won initiate a website for Aras derful that there was an Uachtaran for the global "somebody from the fourth Irish familv