So where have I been hiding you ask? In all the election* madness, that’s where!
And before you recoil in terror, petrified that this will be a party political blog post…let me assure you – there won’t be any political analysis here!
If you want good politics, there are plenty of insightful and bloody brilliant bloggers/journos I can point you in the direction of! But as this is the first Irish election I’ve worked in the media for – I think I can give a unique and somewhat quirky account of events.
One thing I’ve been doing with work is compiling profiles for all the candidates in the various constituencies. Let me alert you to some candidate fun facts:
1. Mattie McGrath – Independent Candidate for South Tipperary
This is taken from his official website:
“People sometimes claim that politics involves a certain amount of fancy dancing, and if that is true, as a former (1974) All Ireland set dancer, Mattie is exceptionally well qualified.”
2. Ciaran Cuffe – Green Party Candidate Dun Laoghaire
Taken from the Green Party Website:
“He is a keen cyclist, and has ridden his bicycle coast-to coast-across the United States.”
3. Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan – Independent Candidate Roscommon South Leitrim
From Reuters:
Ten years ago Luke “Ming” Flanagan sent 500 cannabis joints to Irish politicians as part of his campaign to legalize the drug.
He gets his nickname from Ming the Merciless.
4. Clifford T. Reid – Independent Candidate Kildare South
From Clifford’s official website:
In November 2006, Clifford took part in an all-Ireland expedition to the Antarctic. There, he retraced the footsteps of the historic explorer and native Kilkea man, Ernest Shackleton. The expedition was recorded for RTE and televised over a 6 week period in 2007.
Those are just a tiny cross-section of the quirky politicians we have our pick of on Friday at the polling stations!
Hopefully I’ll have another quirky update tomorrow 
Until then, happy electioning!
*If you’re not from Ireland – we’re in the middle of a general election campaign that is due to end at the weekend. I tend not to delve into my political geekiness on this blog, but please excuse me just this once.
*Also please check out the fabulous Newstalk GE11 website! And if you need a quick refresher on the facts, check out this fantastic website by my scientist friends – you can see all the party’s policies at a glance!
