Kilkenny All-Ireland hurlers greet Martin McGuinness

BY RYAN FULTON IN KILKENNY

MARTIN McGUINNESS’S ‘The People’s President’ campaign rolled into Kilkenny to be met by a large crowd of supporters who had gathered early in the cold and rain to meet the man for whom they had been canvassing and postering for the previous month.

When the campaign bus arrived at The Parade, Martin was surrounded by supporters, young and old, ranging from All-Ireland champion hurlers James McGarry and Richie Power to the local butcher, who explained that his father was a Derryman and that he came out to greet Martin in the middle of a busy Saturday at the shop.

One local paper said, “The Pope would not have been more welcomed than the deputy First Minister,” and so it was, as he was warmly greeted by passersby as he made his way alongside Kilkenny Castle and into Rose Inn Street.

Martin told the crowd, sheltering in the Poc Fada pub from the rain:

It’s been a very busy time. I have been in Waterford already today and now Kilkenny and Carlow this afternoon, with Dublin this evening and Donegal tonight.

He met with local papers and an RTÉ cameraman joined the throng crowding around the candidate.

Martin also spoke of his record in helping to negotiate the Peace Process and his successful efforts to bring jobs to Ireland.

I want to be a jobs president and if anybody has a special relationship with the United States it’s me, with Bill and Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.