Who art thou Jim Tallon?
Opinion: Political bloggers have described him as "the strangest candidate in the country.
He has no posters, no website, no available contact details and has attended no highly publicised debates alongside other candidates in the East constituency. Yet Mr. Jim Tallon of Arklow, Co. Wicklow has put his fate in the hands of constituents in the East in the hope of securing one of three available seats in the European Parliament for the next five years.
So who is Jim Tallon? There are a number of strange videos on YouTube giving an insight to who he is and what he stands for. In one such video, Mr. Tallon fancies himself as “The Hoff” by posting a video of him and his Austin A60 on his Wicklow farm impersonating Michael Knight and Kitt from renowned 80’s show “Knight Rider.”
It cannot be doubted that effort and imagination went into this short piece of footage but the question remains as to why he would do this? Political bloggers have described him as “the strangest candidate in the country.”
Speaking to a freelance journalist in the Arklow area about Mr. Tallon, he said: “Tallon is known for his reputation rather than his record of political achievement. I doubt anybody in the North end of the constituency or indeed outside of Arklow knows who Jim Tallon is.”
This is not the first time Jim Tallon has put himself forward for election. He has stood unsuccessfully in thirteen elections since 1981 with his highest number of votes peaking at 163 in 1982. What is most striking is the fact that Mr. Tallon has run for election in constituencies all over the country including Donegal South West and Cork South Central. One blogger questions: “When is it time to stop trying?” Another has nicknamed him the “travelling candidate.”
Jim Tallon is one of three independent candidates running for election in the East constituency. Micheál E Grealy from Ballina, Co. Mayo has also stepped forward for election in the East (another question mark arises) and so too has Paddy Garvey from Drogheda in Louth. These men may give the higher profile candidates a run for their money in the build up to 5 June over the next week or so, but have so far remained low key.
In his video Mr. Tallon declares himself a prisoner of war and President of the Independent Republic of Glasnost (which is actually his farm in Arklow that features in his YouTube clips). Could one expect that if elected he would peel himself away from his little empire in Wicklow to attend weekly business in Brussels?
Mr. Tallon is well within his rights to stand for election and if people want something fresh brought to European politics then this man’s alternative methods of persuasion would make one believe that he could be the perfect candidate for the role. Perhaps this is the work of a modern day Einstein and in years to come people will worship his eccentricities and genius mind. Or else the Knight Rider wannabe just has a few screws loose…You decide!
By: Grace Campbell
This article is from the Youth Media for Europe project:
Want to hear a fresh perspective on the European elections? European Movement Ireland in partnership with another NGO, Irish Youth Media Development, have picked 25 young people, between the ages of 18 and 23, from throughout the island of Ireland to represent the youth voice in the coverage of the European Parliament elections.
The Youth Media for Europe reporters have hit the campaign trail and are reporting online at www.youthmediaforeurope.com and www.rte.ie. Youth Media for Europe is supported by Google, www.rte.ie, Youth Action Northern Ireland and Old Museum Arts Centre Belfast and is funded by Léargas.
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