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Alan Shatter told us all about his famous campaign balls

The Fine Gael TD has an unusual election prop.

Screen Shot 2016-02-03 at 21.34.58

ALAN SHATTER IS not shy about putting out election paraphernalia that is a bit different to what voters usually get through their letter box.

While others might opt for an informative but boring campaign leaflet, the Fine Gael TD goes for modest productions, like putting himself on TIME magazine…

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… or comparing himself to Star Trek’s William Shatner…

original Irish Election Literature Irish Election Literature

… or producing constituency newsletters featuring exclusive interviews with, er, Alan Shatter:

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But while the leaflets may change, one thing that’s been consistent is his campaign balls. Tennis balls, that is.

Shatter has produced the colourful bouncy balls, with the slogan ‘Shatter is on the ball’, for every election he’s fought going right back to the 1980s.

So what’s up with those balls?

Nicky Ryan / TheJournal.ie

I think it’s important sometimes, when you are engaged on an important and serious endeavour, to smile and bring some smiles to the faces of people.

Shatter added that the balls are remembered far more than any campaign leaflet, ever.

There’s much more from a wide-ranging interview with Alan Shatter on TheJournal.ie this weekend. 

Read: 7 reasons why Alan Shatter is like no other politician

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43 Comments
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    Mute William Kelly
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    Feb 4th 2016, 6:53 AM

    Good self marketing, but not good enough to sell FG.
    Won’t be voting for them ever again, due to Noonans pension levy.
    He misled us re the temporary levy on privately earned pensions, he passed a finance act allowing lifetime reductions to occupational pensions, affecting both pensioners, employees yet to retire, & surviving partners.
    Now they spoof about restoring public pay & pension cuts, & think that the private sector will vote for them !
    Not a chance. Lifetime cuts apply both ways.

    125
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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Feb 4th 2016, 6:40 AM

    It’s a sad indictment on your journalist integrity Hugh O’Connell when you have Alan Shatter in front of you and the hot topic its some campaign paraphernalia.

    124
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    Mute Del Haven
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    Feb 4th 2016, 6:49 AM

    It’s funny because Shatter is written on the ball and his last name is also Shatter. It’s still making me laugh.

    95
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    Mute Armin Tamzarian
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    Feb 4th 2016, 6:34 AM

    Shatter talks a load of balls…. not exactly news!?

    86
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    Mute Fred Astare Astare
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    Feb 4th 2016, 7:19 AM

    Mr. Shatter you have your ball in one hand and your many pensions in the other! What else could you want?
    You should have enough to buy your own passport photos now.
    Good luck in your retirement………

    71
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    Mute Fred Astare Astare
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    Feb 4th 2016, 12:13 PM

    P.S. They never retire.
    Remember John O Donoghue, who got the boot also, after enjoying his luxurious lifestyle, with chauffeur driven cars from terminal 1 to terminal 3 etc…… Well, he has just graduated as a Barrister, But to make sure he can get by, the Gov. gave him a nice new Quango job, in ORAC, office of the refugee application commission , basically he picks out asylum seekers for Ireland. He must have had a good CV to attain that job. Oh , he also receives 108.000 Euro per year pension from the Dail.
    No I’m not jealous just furious…
    http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/exjustice-minister-behind-direct-provision-system-to-interview-refugees-31544033.html

    Its just the jobs for the boys system that exists that bothers me.
    Rant over , sorry.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Feb 4th 2016, 12:28 PM

    Sickening stuff Fred, Though it’s hardly surprising ,Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are two sides of the same treacherous arse.

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    Mute Fred Astare Astare
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    Feb 4th 2016, 12:52 PM

    Yes your right Paul, its depressing, one big fish bowl and everybody gets fed, FF/FG/SF..Labour, doesn’t matter. Put a show on for the media but look after themselves is their number one priority. Like last week I found out Conor Skehan the Chairman of the Housing Authourity or housing.ie . He mentioned a few years ago he rents, and will always rent. So that must be why there are no houses getting built methinks. BTW. When he was asked who gave him his position as chairman, he replied Phil Hogan….
    Its going to be a RAINBOW Government anyhow… That will last a few months anyhow, that’s my prediction.
    Staying away from the Journal.ie for the rest of the day, depressing myself and probably you people too.
    PPPPPPSSSSSS Please Tipperary don’t vote for that Second-hand Car Salesman Alan Kelly.
    Have a good day.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Feb 4th 2016, 6:48 AM

    Time Magazine? Its time you disappeared Shatter, yesterdays man with no fresh ideas. Just go please.

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    Mute The Guru
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    Feb 4th 2016, 6:50 AM

    They’ve certainly made a balls of running the country

    72
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 4th 2016, 3:44 PM

    Merkel ran the country, they were just the lackies…

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    Mute Eugene Walsh
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    Feb 4th 2016, 7:01 AM

    I’m always wary of people, esp men who talk about smiles and bringing smiles to faces. That aside, dude don’t half love himself ya !

    63
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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Feb 4th 2016, 10:45 AM

    He’s about the only one who does. As Oscar Wilde observed ‘even his friends hate him’.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Feb 4th 2016, 7:56 AM

    I thought he died, politically.

    49
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    Mute Eoin Fleming
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    Feb 4th 2016, 7:13 AM

    Putting himself on balls to bring a smile to people’s faces, he of all people shoukd know there’s a law against that!

    49
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    Mute Derek Mills
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    Feb 4th 2016, 8:12 AM

    Typo there Alan..Should Read TIME for serious Chancers.. This clown epitomizes all that is wrong in Irish politics.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Feb 4th 2016, 8:47 AM

    Thought he was too busy handing out irish citizenship to every tom,dick and harry

    42
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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Feb 4th 2016, 10:47 AM

    Not to everyone. He was opposed to giving it to White South African farmers who are getting murdered in their thousands. But if you were from the Congo or Afghanistan…..that’s fine.

    25
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    Mute Shane Mcgill
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    Feb 4th 2016, 9:01 AM

    So Alan this week, Pascal last week, hope your not a FG supporter club and will equally give time to all party’s

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    Mute John Ward
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    Feb 4th 2016, 8:27 AM

    More bollocks!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 4th 2016, 3:45 PM

    At least one anyway lol.

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    Mute John Cross
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    Feb 4th 2016, 8:40 AM

    Alan Shittler

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    Mute leartius
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    Feb 4th 2016, 11:28 AM

    Well he not short of a few euros, big farm good salary from the dail and a solicitors practice. He can easily afford big balls, multi-coloured balls but its the lack of any real balls that let him down.

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    Mute Shay Flynn
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    Feb 4th 2016, 10:17 AM

    Time to go allan

    22
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    Mute .
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    Feb 4th 2016, 10:45 AM

    He will win a seat OK Hope he gets appointed minister again Law reform perhaps Was a good minister of justice tried to take on the vested interests

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    Mute Johnny Merren
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    Feb 4th 2016, 12:11 PM
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    Mute Patrick James Walsh
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    Feb 4th 2016, 1:42 PM

    What about the resignation of Marin Callinan, and the treatment of the whistleblowers, and the issues surrounding Shatter`s own resignation ? Why is journal.ie facilitating elecctioneering and ridiculous questions rather than what people are entitled to ask of Shatter and he refuses to answer?

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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Feb 4th 2016, 1:45 PM

    Because Shatter espouses exactly the same agenda as does Journal.ie

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Feb 4th 2016, 12:33 PM

    Bye bye shatter.

    9
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    Mute Johnny Merren
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    Feb 4th 2016, 1:29 PM

    The landlord Shatter is a wealthy man.
    Shatter owns several properties in the United States.
    With interests in fifteen properties,
    Shatter had the largest property portfolio of any member of Ireland’s cabinet while minister

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    Mute Tony Murphy
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    Feb 4th 2016, 1:45 PM

    These are HATE FACTS!

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    Mute Rashers Tierney
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    Feb 4th 2016, 2:58 PM

    I was tempted, but no, it’s just too easy!

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Feb 4th 2016, 3:42 PM
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    Mute Anne Kelly
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    Feb 4th 2016, 9:45 PM

    Forrest f-ing Gump!!!

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    Mute Peter Higgins
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    Feb 4th 2016, 5:44 PM

    Would that be Shatter the Legal genius ? The one who strutted into a live TV studio and BROKE THE LAW ?

    He should stick to soft porn. He seems to be more at home with it..

    1
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