Sinn Féin agrees to remove election posters in Mayo county town

THE Sinn Féin party has agreed to take down presidential election posters erected at locations around Castlebar.

The party at national level has been in contact with campaign workers in the town to have them removed.

The confirmation has been welcomed by the chairman of the Castlebar Tifdy Towns Committee, Alan Mee, who last Friday wrote to all campaigns outlining the results of a recent poll conducted by his committee (92% No to posters/8% Yes to posters) and requesting no posters be erected in the county town.

Mr. Mee said he is satisfied that those responsible for erecting Liadh Ní Riada posters in Castlebar were not aware of the request at the time and he welcomed their commitment to take them down over the weekend.

Mr. Mee also reported that the Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, and Sean Gallagher campaigns all responded indicating they won't be using posters.

Peter Casey has not yet responded to a second letter sent on Wednesday. However his campaign has not erected posters in Castlebar.

Michael D.Higgins responded indicating he has instructed his postering company not to erect posters in Castlebar.

At yesterday's meeting of the Castlebar Municipal District, Sinn Fein Councillor Joe McHale said as a member of the party involved, he had not heard any instructions as regards presidential election posters.

However, he said he now understood there has been a request made on the matter by Castlebar Tidy Towns Committee and it will be acted upon.