‘Local solutions can solve national politics’

CORK South West election candidate John Kearney is determined to leave no ground uncovered in his quest to try and break down the bureaucracy “that prevents so many people from putting business ideas into action”.

And, so we find ourselves aboard John Moore’s ferry to the beautiful Heir Island five minutes from Cunnamore Pier in West Cork. Kearney, an independent candidate based in Baltimore, is anxious to do some canvassing there. Just 29 voters are registered on the 2.5km island — and none of the other candidates have made the crossing yet. So far, his is the only election poster on the island.

At the first house on the island, John is eyed with a degree of suspicion by the woman answering the door. In her 40s, she doesn’t give away much about her voting intentions: just asks John what party he is and when he answers “Independent”, she nods and scans his elections leaflet.