Phantom Brexit menace vote must all be in Varadkar’s mind

Jan 11 to Jan 18

After days of searching in vain for the hordes of phantom voters who have told the Taoiseach’s acolytes their greatest single worry is Brexit (60pc, according to one south Dublin Fine Gael-er), I was starting to wonder... could they maybe be avoiding me?

No, came the answer. How could they, when they don’t exist outside the Fine Gael spin room?

The nearly 10,000-plus voters we have encountered over the past 12 days are talking about three key issues: housing, health and pension age. At least one of these issues is raised with me at almost every door and quite often, two — or even all three — are.

Sunday, Jan 19

Almost two days after Fine Gael deleted the infamous video that was deemed to be too juvenile — even for Leo Varadkar — and some voters are still mentioning it. If its purpose was to put pressure on me, then it has backfired worse than the RIC commemoration.

Seems the Fine Gael campaign motto is: if at first you don’t succeed, then you lower your standards even further!

Monday, Jan 20

At lunchtime I interrupt a hectic day of canvassing for election to attend to the simple, but vital, task of ensuring I am on the ballot paper for election.

Along with my Fianna Fail running mate, we hand in our nomination papers and join the 10 others seeking the four Limerick City Dail seats.

Safely on the ballot paper, I go to pre-record an interview for tonight’s RTE Six-One News constituency profile before heading over to Caherdavin for tonight’s round of door knocking.

Tuesday, Jan 21

If either of the national broadcasters want a masterclass in how to moderate an orderly election debate, then they should quickly head to the Live 95 studios and get Joe Nash to deliver it.

I join Joe along with Oireachtas colleagues Jan O’Sullivan TD and Senator Kieran O’Donnell for a lively discussion on crime, housing, childcare and healthcare. Each of us got to set out our party positions and challenge each other, without having to interrupt and talk across ourselves. It can be done, even when the stakes and passions are running high, with the right person chairing it.

Wednesday, Jan 22

We head to Kennedy Park and Glasgow Park for today’s morning canvass. These have always been good areas for me.

They are also the places you get a solid feel for what people are really thinking. We break for a quick lunch followed by another good canvass in another important bellwether corner of Limerick, Southill. Once again, the chronic conditions in University Hospital Limerick and the non-availability of social or affordable homes are the big issues.

Thursday, Jan 23

Today’s canvass starts in Carey’s Road and Hyde

Road and finishes across the Shannon in Greystones, on the Ennis Road with several stops for tea, sandwiches, chat and more tea along the way.

This is how I like to campaign. I am not just a great believer in getting out and knocking on doors, I am a total devotee. But I also know the importance of social media.

While some see it as a way to reach younger voters, and that is true,

I’ve discovered that just as many older voters use social media — particularly Facebook — to keep up with the election and to interact with candidates. Most of my campaign evenings end with me recording a short vlog and going through online messages and responses.

Friday, Jan 24

A very early start as I head to Dublin for the Fianna Fail manifesto launch at Smock Alley. Then back to Limerick to join the team for this evening canvass.

As I write, I am looking over at a very funny Vote Willie O’Dea mug sent to me. I posted a pic of it on Instagram a few days back. It features a very particular piece of Limerick vernacular — Gowl. There is not enough space on this page, never mind this diary, to explain the many uses of this go-to Limerick term.

The word itself does not appear on the mug, rather it is a “G” and an owl emoji, a motif which I later discovered was created by a talented local artist Ann Blake, though not for this mug.

It has been a long week, but a productive one. Voters want a change in direction and that means a change at the top. The week ahead will be crucial.

Willie O’Dea is a long-standing Fianna Fail TD in Limerick