Lowry defends national record on the campaign beat

ASK Michael Lowry if he resents being regarded by some in the “commentariat” as a parish-pump politician, a guy to whom you’d go to fix a pot-hole rather than fix the economy, and he bristles.

“It annoys me,” he says. “I don’t know how anyone could say I haven’t acted in the national interest, when I have.”

To back up his argument, he contends that he proved his mettle on the national stage by voting for the recent Finance Bill at a time when the government desperately needed bodies in the “yes” lobby. If anyone has a problem with a reputation as a man who “gets things done”, as he puts it, that’s their problem and not his.

“I have experience and know how to work the political system. People say that I do it in a constructive way.”

In Lowry heartland, Thurles, the personal touch is important. During a canvass of the main shopping centre, the deputy and his team hand out stickers, leaflets and even mobile phone numbers to those who want to discuss an issue in more detail.

“Michael, how are ya, I’m your friend on Facebook now,” Teresa McGarry from nearby Ballynonty says.

“We started on Facebook 18 months ago and within days we were up to 5,000 friends,” Michael explains.

Teresa has a bone to pick all the same: “Listen Michael. You were in Ballynonty on Sunday and my husband Pat was mad to have a chat with you. But you didn’t get a chance to come up to him.”

Quick as a flash: “I’ll give you my mobile and he can ring me.” Problem solved.

Five-year-old Alannah Doyle-Herlihy has no time for the kissing children routine, and gets straight to the heart of what’s bugging her friends in the Dunlia estate in Thurles. “We need a playground,” she tells the man who once controlled several semi-state bodies in his ministerial portfolio. “We’d like a duck-pond as well.”

Alannah hasn’t a vote yet, but her mother Maria does and Mr Lowry tells the determined young girl he’ll go out to bat for that playground.

“I’ll send you a note and tell you how I’m getting on. You tell everyone in Dunlia you met me.”

Intentions are one thing, getting out the vote is the key and that will be a priority for Michael Lowry and his team of 140 or so campaign workers.

Frances Whelan from Loughlatalla, says she’s a Lowry supporter. But: “I was just telling Michael, I mightn’t be able to get out [to vote].”

Not a problem. “We’ll get her a lift.”

Picture: Michael Lowry canvasing Francis Whelan in Thurles Shopping Centre. Photograph : Fergal Shanahan