THE DEPICTION of senior Fianna Fáil figures as bloodthirsty vampires in an award-winning poster designed by Co Wicklow schoolchildren has provoked a furious response from local party councillors.
Cathaoirleach of Bray Town Council David Grant objected to the cartoon representation of former taoisigh and ex-party leaders Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen, and former minister for finance Brian Lenihan, by pupils from Scoil Chualann in Bray.
The poster was the centrepiece of a project that won a Lions Club competition aimed at developing children’s understanding of other cultures. Their project, which focused on Romania, was displayed in a local shop window.
“I don’t believe they respected the spirit of the competition. There was definitely a guiding hand. I don’t believe 10- and 12-year-olds came up with the idea of using three Irish politicians to depict what they learned on Romania,” Mr Grant said.
The poster features “Vlad” Ahern, Cowen and Lenihan wearing blood-stained shirts. They stand near a signpost with directions to Dracula’s castle; a blood bank and the National Asset Management Agency. “Do 10- and 12-year-olds know much about these things?” Mr Grant asked. His Fianna Fáil council colleague Pat Vance has echoed his concerns.
However, Bray Lions Club spokesman Danny Bohan insisted no complaints had been received about the display. “I did not receive one complaint about it, one phone call of an objectionable nature.” Mr Bohan also strongly defended the winning entry.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/4a594789-7fb0-4c33-955f-b321dc1c60e2.png)