PAPER ROUND/Declan Fahy: The use of the word "bastards" by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, at an election rally in Roscommon gave local newspapers an original angle this week for their reports on the start of Fianna Fáil's general election campaign in the county.
"Speaking about the forthcoming election, Mr Ahern told the 400-strong crowd: 'Let's get out and get the bastards,' " reported the Roscommon Champion.
The Taoiseach then added: "You know what they said about us at Christmas."
The paper said the statements were a clear reference to a comment made by Labour leader Mr Ruairí Quinn last December when he was reported as having said, about Fianna Fáil, "let's get the bastards out of office".
In its front-page story, under a picture of Mr Ahern holding a baby, the paper said: "While the comment was made during a typical rallying cry to the party faithful . . . Mr Ahern's use of the word at a public gathering will shock many people."
But a spokesperson for the Taoiseach told the Westmeath Independent the remarks were made in the context of emphasising Mr Ahern's desire not to engage in a dirty-tricks campaign.
The remarks were a direct allusion to comments made previously by a rival party leader, said the spokesperson.
"What he (Mr Ahern) was saying was that we have had to put up with those kinds of comments. We have had slurs and innuendo but that is not for us and we are not going down that road," said the spokesperson.
The Roscommon Herald, which had a picture of the Taoiseach on its front page, and five pages of reports inside on his visit, did not mention Mr Ahern's use of the B-word.
Its editorial, however, was critical of the Government's record on issues concerning the county. During the visit, Mr Ahern "spoke much of his Government's commitment to Co Roscommon and to the development of infrastructure and other facilities to help the county thrive and prosper".
But, the editorial continued: "He made no major or minor announcements, preferring to rally the troops for the coming election rather than engage in auction politics in what is seen at national level as a 'safe' constituency for the party.
"What was most worrying about the Taoiseach's speeches from Roscommon's point of view was his opinion that there is no point trying to develop every 'village and crossroads' because it cannot be done."
The Western People, too, criticicised the Taoiseach for the Government's record on rural development.
While acknowledging that the economic situation was improving, the paper said, "Anyone with a head on them in the West will continue to assert that key goals for the region under the National Development Plan are seriously behind schedule."
The paper said roads in the region were "grossly sub-standard"; there was a "shameful infrastructural deficit"; and the "vast majority of new jobs in the west were finding their way into Galway city and its environs".
At the same time, the editorial pointed out that " total jobs for the other western counties over the past five years can be counted in hundreds", said the paper.
The editorial ended by asking the Taoiseach to "reflect on the fact that where once in Mayo his party had four out of six seats, it is now down to two out of five. Clearly the spin hasn't worked in the face of the damning inaction over the years."
Meanwhile, in Sligo last week, there was "one of the most unusual days in the history of the beautifully restored 19th century Sligo Courthouse", said the Sligo Champion.
Sligo Circuit Court has been hearing a high-profile case concerning the ownership of an early video recording of some members of the pop band Westlife.