Healy-Rae election posters found on peak of Carrauntoohil

It’s scaling the heights of election gimmickry to place candidates’ photographs on top of Ireland’s highest mountain, but all’s fair in the war of politics.

Some opponents of the Healy-Rae family are casting their eyes skywards following the placing of posters with the images of father and son team, Danny and Johnny Healy-Rae, on the summit of Carrauntoohil.

However, Kerry County Council, to which they are both seeking re-election as Independents, yesterday said they were “perfectly entitled” to put posters where they liked since Wednesday — the first day posters for the EU and local elections were permitted.

“There’s nothing against having posters up there as long as they are removed within seven days after polling,” said council spokesman Pádraig Corkery.

It is not certain when the posters were erected, but the Healy-Raes didn’t trek up the mountain themselves — they have been too busy canvassing to waste time on such an expedition.

Danny Healy-Rae said yesterday they didn’t know the posters were being put on the mountain. “Some of our supporters did it and there’s no truth in the rumour that my father, Jackie [retired TD] went up there with his pet pony, Peig,” he added, tongue-in-cheek.

He promised, however, that the posters would be removed within the statutory seven-day period after polling.

Meanwhile, election workers blitzing the country’s road network with posters have been warned that their efforts could spell disaster for motorists.

Roadside hoardings and posters carelessly erected can easily obscure the visibility of those behind the wheel, road safety officer Noel Gibbons warned.

All election candidates and their supporters are now being urged to consider the safety threat posed by the positioning of their material.

A similar warning was issued by Kerry County Council which urged candidates not to hang banners and posters from road overbridges and pedestrian bridges, as they could become loose, be interfered with by third parties, and could fall onto fast-moving traffic.

“Traffic and road signs are specifically designed to be clearly read by passing motorists,” acting director of roads and safety Ger MacNamara stated. He said those erecting posters near junctions should ensure they are not blocking road users’ sightlines.

ESB Networks is warning against the placing of posters on electricity poles.