http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch Just another irishtimes.com weblog Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:31:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en For the past month, this blog has been tracking the mad, bad and sad antics of election candidates across the spectrum. And now it’s all over. We feel empty, deflated and at a loss. Yeah, right. We’re glad it’s all over. For a few months, at least. Thanks to all for the ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/09/its-all-over-bar-the-shouting/ A selection of images from the European election count for the South constituency at Neptune Stadium in Cork and the North West constituency count in the TF Royal Hotel and Theatre in Castlebar, Co Mayo. Independent Candidate Marian Harkin celebrates with supporters at the European election count for the North West ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/09/view-from-the-cork-castlebar-count-centres/ A selection of images by Irish Times photographer Cyril Byrne from the European election count for the East constituency at Punchestown. Newly-elected MEP Mairead Mc Guinnesss plants a smacker on FG leader Enda Kenny Liam Aylward (FF) celebrates after being elected on the seventh count Labour candidate Nessa Childers celebrates her win with ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/08/view-from-the-punchestown-count-centre/ A selection of images by Irish Times photographers  Bryan O’Brien and Matt Kavanagh from last night’s European election count for the Dublin constituency at the RDS. Socialist Party candidate Joe Higgins celebrates his election on the seventh count. (Photo: Matt Kavanagh) Socialist Party candidate Joe Higgins in a light hearted moment with Fianna ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/08/view-from-the-rds-count-centre/ Here’s a selection of yesterday’s photographs of the winners and losers in the local and byelections. (All photographs by Irish Times staff unless otherwise indicated.) WINNERS Noel Gregory, a brother of the late Tony Gregory, embraces Dublin Central byelection winner Maureen O'Sullivan at the RDS. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh The Fine Gael Dublin South byelection ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/07/a-picture-tells-a-thousand-words/ Michael O'Regan, Parliamentary Correspondent, writes: Stephen Mather had his moment of national fame when he was one of a number of Fianna Fáil activists to stand next to RTÉ political correspondent David Davin-Power on the Nine O'Clock News on a Saturday night last February. The occasion was the Fianna Fáil ardfheis ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/05/ff-no-more-what-does-it-mather/ Not everyone with a polling card will be voting tomorrow. Indeed, there are some who believe we shouldn’t be voting at all. The Workers Solidarity Movement anarchist group claims that “it is impossible to bring about any meaningful change in society through the electoral process”. WSM’s national secretary Gavin Gleeson argues that ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/04/why-bother-voting/ Enda Kenny spent much of today’s Fine Gael press conference fending off accusations of flip-flopping over Sinn Féin. Beforehand, he got the chance, uninterrupted, to make his final Big Speech, surrounded by Byelection Big Cheeses.  Statesmanlike? You decide. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHpNXGh7NA4[/youtube] Meanwhile, the Labour Party has just posted profiles online of some of their ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/03/something-for-nearly-everyone/ Our esteemed former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was never renowned for his grasp of grammar. Indeed, he gave George W. Bush a run for his money in terms of mangling the English language. It appears little has changed since he trundled off into semi-retirement. He has been shoving leaflets through letterboxes in ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/03/bertie-dances-to-a-different-tune/ Stephen O’Shea is a candidate in the Dundrum ward for Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council. He started his campaign late, with virtually no budget. As an experiment, he embraced online media, such as his blog, Twitter, Google et al and has erected no posters, preferring to use a Flickr account instead. In this post on his ... http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/campaignwatch/2009/06/02/online-campaigning-a-candidates-view/