Toiréasa Ferris Blog

Counting the days

Monday 1st June

The last week of an election campaign is always stressful for candidates, party colleagues and family members. There has been a raft of opinion polls, newspaper specials and media events taking a look at all the candidates and at least some of the issues. All of this creates an atmosphere of almost unbearable tension among everybody involved in the campaign.

This atmosphere soaks right down to the voters. It is in these last few days that the voters really focus on the issues and the candidates, there’s no hiding from the public or from the media. My sense is that as people concentrate more and more on deciding who to vote for those of us arguing that we need real change in Ireland and in Europe are benefitting most.

That sense of almost desperation for new policies for this new time is palpable. I am out there every day trying to convince people that a new generation doesn’t have to follow the failed policies of yesterday. It’s an important message to get across as cynicism and mistrust of all politicians is understandable as we see the queues for the dole getting longer and longer every day.

I am still confident though that the appetite for change is growing by the day and the response I am getting across Munster has made me believe that a great result for Republicans and for all forces trying to bring about real change is possible.  I don’t intend letting up over the last few days- this election is too important to allow the government off the hook!

On another note, these last few days are also noticeable for the number of clichés that get trotted out every day. “It’s all about momentum” and “there’s only one poll that matters” are two of my favourites. I suppose there’s a grain of truth in every cliché but they do get tiresome. For my part I promise to try avoiding the use of any clichés between now and Friday.