Presidential aspirants in Kells and Dunshaughlin

Two of the candidates for the presidency were out and about in Meath during the past 10 days, pressing the flesh as the countdown begins in earnest towards next month's election of Ireland's new head of state. Independent candidate Mary Davis signed the petition for the return of the Book of Kells when she visited Kells last week as part of her campaign. The chief executive of Special Olympics Ireland was greeted by a large crowd of wellwishers when she arrived in the town on Monday of last week and addressed a large audience in the Headfort Arms Hotel. She met with a group of US ladies who had travelled to Meath for the Solheim Cup and who were staying in the Headfort Arms Hotel. She received a great reception from the golf fans because of her links with Special Olympics and the Kennedy Shriver family, who are also associated with the Special Olympics movement. She told them that she is a member of Headfort Golf Club in Kells and had also played at Killeen Castle. Meanwhile, another independent candidate, Seán Gallagher, visited Meath on Sunday, starting with a visit to the Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival and then attending the closing ceremony at the Solheim Cup. He said the festival had injected a tremendous spirit of excitement into Dunshaughlin's main street and had given him a fantastic opportunity to speak with local people about the aims and motivations behind his bid for the presidency and what they want from the next President. "It was great to see the town alive and working together - it is by working to our strengths we will be able to maintain and sustain town pride and confidence," he said. "From there, I went on to attend the Solheim Cup closing ceremony at the magnificent Kileen Castle. I was delighted to attend the closing ceremony that brought this wonderful tournament to a dramatic end. Hosting the Solheim Cup in the Meath countryside is of integral value to our tourism industry, providing us with a chance to showcase the world-class facilities and resources we as a country have, and not to mention the calibre of the Irish athletes representing the nation." The Meath Sean Gallagher for President campaign is holding an initial meeting at Trim Castle Hotel on Saturday 1st October at 11am. Anybody who is interested in getting involved in any way is welcomed. For further information, contact Gordon Mitchell (0870 960 9975. The Mary Davis campaign is hosting a coffee morning in Ryans of Trimgate Street, Navan, on Friday next, 30th September, from 10.30am-12.30pm, for anybody interested in supporting her campaign.