Tony Flannery

It is Wednesday evening, and the election campaign is almost over. I thought the media moratorium was for the whole of tomorrow, but now I learn it is only from 2.00pm on. So we have to endure another morning. However, early on in the campaign I decided that I would only listen to a small amount each day, and some days none at all. For somebody who is very interested in politics that was initially hard, but as the days went by I found it enormously liberating.

I got the following letter from the Council of Priests in Killala. It is significant in that, while I have had lots of support at ground level in the Church, this is the first word from an ‘official’ source. I am very grateful to the Killala Council of Priests, which, of course, includes the bishop.

Dear Tony,
On behalf of the priests of the Diocese of Killala I write this letter to assure you of our support for you, and to let you know that you are very much in our thoughts and prayers.

I grew up in a household where politics was regularly discussed, so I am still very interested in the subject, even if, as a priest, I have had to stay out of any active involvement. I am keeping a close eye on the present election campaign, even to the extent of watching the whole of both leaders debates so far, and even the analysis programmes that followed them. That must classify me as an ‘anorak’!