Election posters go up inside Portlaoise town limits against Tidy Towns appeal

Posters for local and European election candidates have gone up inside Portlaoise town limits in spite of Tidy Towns request not to do so.

The vast majority of nearly 50 candidates and their parties seeking votes in Portlaoise have complied with the request not to put signs on poles in the Laois county town.

The request was made by Portlaoise Tidy Towns as part of a Laois Federation of Tidy Towns effort to exclude posters from streets of towns and villages.

However, posters have appeared on Portlaoise's streets on behalf of three candidates.

Signs have appeared on behalf of two European candidates - Barry Cowen of Fianna Fail and Fergal Landy of Labour.

Posters have also appeared seeking votes for Martha Ryan of the Aontu. She seeking to win one of seven seats from the Portlaoise Municipal District on Laois County Council.

Ms Ryan's team said they removed the two posters erected when it was highlighted. They said they were unaware about tidy towns request of candidates.

The majority of the town posters have been erected on behalf of Mr Cowen who is a Laois Offaly TD. Ads on big billboards and bus stops have also advertised the candidacy of Dep Cowen in Portlaoise.

There are 20 candidates competing for seven