Road signs fall foul of election posters

Political posters plastered along roadways in Northern Ireland in the run-up to the Assembly elections have been described as…

Political posters plastered along roadways in Northern Ireland in the run-up to the Assembly elections have been described as "extremely dangerous" by Mr Sean Price, a divisional roads manager, said the Ballymena Guardian.

"Some overzealous individuals put the posters on road signs," he explained. "And some bright spark used a waterproof solution to paste them on. As a result, we lost 50 signs in the Antrim area and about the same in Ballymena. Taken over Northern Ireland as a whole, that is a lot of signs and a lot of money."

Many candidates in Fermanagh-South Tyrone have been bolstered by visits from their party leaders in "an attempt to invigorate what has been a relatively low-key campaign, with interest deflated after the hard-fought referendum. Even television coverage of the World Cup, which has played havoc with the early evening news schedules, is thought to be having a negative impact on election enthusiasm," said the Impartial Reporter.

Commenting on the "election apathy", the newspaper said that "this is not only regrettable, it carries the additional danger of providing an election result which may go against the vote in which the referendum provided a ringing endorsement for change". The IDA's latest report on job creation got a glum response in Donegal. "It is bordering on obscene that of all the 15,000 new jobs created, only 279 are located in the north-west, that is Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim," Mr Dinny McGinley TD told the Done- gal Democrat.

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The latest attraction in the county is a rotting whale, which is drawing crowds to the huge and hazardous cliffs in the Fanad area. Hundreds of locals are risking life and limb to get a look at the 30-foot whale carcass, said the Donegal Democrat.

"Already some local youths have climbed down the cliffs and taken a tooth from the animal with the aid of a lump hammer and Visegrips!"

A local farmer, Johnny Gallagher, said: "There are people coming from everywhere. I am thinking of opening a souvenir shop myself."

The Drogheda Independent described how "a day at the beach turned to terror" for families with young children when teenage motorists went on a rampage at Laytown last weekend. "Mothers and children were left shocked and frightened after the cars sped up and down the beach, and did handbrake turns just inches from where toddlers were playing.

"Eyewitnesses told gardai how the cars raced side by side, separating to drive around a woman with a pram. Gardai were met by tearful mothers who were terrified by the event."

Two cars were seized and two young men from Leixlip are expected to appear in court soon over the incident.

"Firemen need to burn up calories!" said the Longford News. "According to a recent report presented to Longford County Council on Monday last, the level of fitness of Longford's firemen will have to be addressed during the coming year." The report, by Longford Fire Authority, calls for the provision of gymnasium equipment within the fire station.

The plan to encourage veteran councillors to take a golden handshake and opt out of next year's council elections has drawn fierce criticism in local newspapers around the country. In the Tuam Herald, Fianna Fail councillor Mr Michael Fahy called the plan a "scrappage deal for councillors".

Another councillor told the newspaper that he has no intention of "cashing in my political career for a few bob".

A British man came to the Republic "for a song but ended with a TV windfall!" said the Kilkenny People. Derek Brandon settled in Kilkenny, intending to semi-retire and write songs until his company, Oblivion Television, landed the contract to provide racing coverage for RTE.

"No thanks - Ballybunion refuses £300,000 for eager golfers", said the Kerryman. "Ballybunion Golf Club is to refund £300,000 to 50 people who were unsuccessful in attaining 10year memberships of the club - but a further 25 lucky applicants are to pay £150,000 to avail of the special membership offer," it said.

Mr Dermot Desmond, a well-known international financier, is making history in his birthplace of Macroom, Co Cork, by being awarded the freedom of the town, the first time in the 100-year history of the council that such an honour has been conferred, said the Corkman. The ceremony was to take place yesterday, at the same time as the unveiling of a new sculpture commissioned after Mr Desmond donated £50,000 to Macroom in 1996.