‘Out and About’ and nepotism with Fianna Fáil and the Bray People

Whos out and whos about on the campaign trail in the lead up to the June elections? For those interested in a pictorial scoop of campaigning events may look no further than the ‘in pictures’ top slot on the Bray People’s homepage, which coincidentally contained no mention of the political parties or people it followed. If it was a general spread across the various campaigns then that point is fair enough – but who is represented in the gallery and what are they doing? This, after all, will be the savoured flavour left in the mouths of voters when they glean who was ‘out and about’ and what they did before shedding scalps in June. So out of 15 pictures, what happened? Here is the list:

1. Cllr David Grant FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Warren McDonald speaking to Cllr David Grant’
2. Cllr Pat Fitzgerald FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Cllr Pat Fitzgerald FF gets a warm welcome from Angela Doyle in Abbeyville, Arklow.’
3. Cllr David Grant FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Francis Murphy greets Cllr Grant at his gate.’
4. Cllr David Grant FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Francis Murphy listening to Cllr Grant.’
5. Cllr David Grant FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Cllr David Grant, with Emlyn Grant with James Scanlon.’
6. Cllr David Grant FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Cllr David Grant on the canvassing trail in Little Bray. Here he is pictured with Eabha Maloney and Mrs Maloney.’
7. Cllr Pat Fitzgerald FF – incumbent councilor ‘ He needn’t have worried as he recieves another warm welcome from Mary Forde, St Bridget’s Tce, Arklow.’
8. Cllr Pat Fitzgerald FF – incumbent councilor – ‘Joe Kelly, Abbeyville with Cllr Pat Fitzgerald FF.’
9. Cllr Pat Casey FF – incumbent – ‘Cllr Pat Casey FF launches his election campaign at the Glendalough hotel.’
10. Eamon Gilmore and Nicky Kelly Labour – ‘ Dressed to impress, Eamon Gilmore fixes Nicky Kelly’s Chain before going on a walkabout. Mr Gilmore started the local and European elections campaigns in the south east visiting Arklow to open Mayor Cllr Nicky Kelly’s election office before moving on to Wexford.’
11. Liz McManus, Eamon Gilmore and Nessa Childers with local Labour Party candidates.
12. Gale Dunne FF – candidate – knocking on doors -’Gale Dunne knocks on a door looking for support in the upcoming Local Elections.’
13. Gale Dunne FF candidate – ‘Gale Dunne with Teddy Dunne, calls to Treasa Dunne seeking support.’
14. FF election launch – candidates Cllr Elenor Roche and Ciaran Hayden with support from Dick Roche
15. Ciaran Hayden FF candidate – ‘Candidate Ciaran Hayden with Vincent Brennan, Rian Hayden and Alan Monahan’
16. ‘Greystones Fianna Fail Canvas: One of the hazards of canvasing.’ – dog barking

Is there something innocuous about how representative these photos are of the ‘campaign trail’ so far when 13 out of 16 of them follow Fianna Fáil candidates only? [make that 14 if you count the barking dog].

What about how these candidates are perceived across parties when the only shots of Labour include Gilmore fixing Nicky Kelly’s chainmail and Labour candidates walking with other Labour party candidates or members? Labour are not in touch with the public and smile with glee nepotistically. This is interesting, considering that transitions from pictures 12-15 cannot be described in any other way other than belligerent and unashamed nepotism as readers pan from Gale Dunne visiting the Dunnes, to Dick Roche supporting Cllr Elenor Roche and Ciaran Hayden (who finishes out the FF photoshoot). What about the Bray People’s love-in with Cllr Grant, taking up 30% (5 pictures) of the gallery and 4 pictures dedicated to two  new FF candidates (one sharing the limelight with Dick Roche, the other with what appears to be from all the same family?)

Should we be surprised by this reinvigorated, renewed and much changed party? What about the Bray People’s responsibility in all of this and how it has been used as a blatant marketing tool by FF hacks and hawks? Is this just an overreaction on my part or did the other parties just sleep in when the early birds were out getting their worms. Hmmm..

Vote

Strategic voting, first preference choice and spoiling your poll card (last time Bray proudly dirtied 2.24% in total -that’s 228 votes – can we better than that as we were only second in the Spoilers list behind Wicklow town in 2004?) are all welcome – silence is simply consent!

Did you get on the register of electors on time or call in to see Mick the Book before Febraury 14? Check to see if you are going to the polls over there, or not.