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IF you wanted an example of the dubious joys of a winter election campaign then Sunday evening in Ballyheigue was the ideal spot.
On a dark, windy, cold and wet evening, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin visited the home patch of Deputy John Brassil.
The weather might have been dismal but that didn’t deter the Fianna Fáil faithful with a huge crowd out to meet the Corkman who would be Taoiseach.
There were plenty of senior Kerry FF politicians on hand for the visit as well. Six of the party’s County Councillors – including Killarney-based Mayor of Kerry Niall Kelleher – and Senator Mark Daly were on hand for the canvass.
Martin – a politician noted for his ability to work a room – was well-received, calling to several pubs, where he spent considerable time mingling with the patrons.
The reception was particularly warm in Kirbys, clearly something of an FF stronghold festooned as it was with ‘Brassil No 1’ posters and with a large portrait of Charles Haughey in the corner.
Mr Martin’s trip to Ballyheigue came at the midpoint of a two-day trip to Kerry, which also saw him canvassing Killarney with Norma Moriarty and Tralee with Norma Foley.
With the election only a week away the length of Martin’s visit to Kerry is an indication that the party is determined to take a second seat in the constituency.
The Kerryman asked Mr Martin how he feels his party’s chances are in Kerry.
“The difference for us in this election compared with 2016 is that were in a stronger position in many constituencies in terms of the teams we have in place, the number of candidates and the strength of those teams,” he said.
“Kerry’s a good example. We’ve three candidates here, all of very high calibre, who would be very able national representatives. That puts us in a competitive position to fight for a second seat.”
With national polls showing a surge in Sinn Féin support, Mr Martin had no illusions about the challenge ahead.
“We normally outperform polls, but we’re not taking anything for granted... We have to make that extra effort to win that second seat.”
“Transfers will be very important and we have to maximise our first-preference vote.
“A national poll will never capture what’s the dynamic of individual constituencies,” said Mr Martin.
“The last seat in many constituencies is impossible to call from any national poll, and I think we’ll be very competitive for all of those last seats,” he said.
As to the rumours that Fianna Fáil and Michael Healy-Rae have struck a deal with a ministry on offer, Mr Martin would not be drawn.
“I couldn’t possibly comment on that. Suffice it to say that a lot of my Kerry candidates are asking me about cabinet positions, and I’ve been asked about them a lot here in Ballyheigue this evening,” he said.
Doubtless a lot of those questions involved Deputy Brassil, who will be hoping for a junior ministry if Fianna Fáil can take power.