Michael Clifford: Fianna Fáil face 'tough, closely fought election'

Shoppers were ambushed from all angles by political big guns in Douglas Village on Saturday morning.

There was the-man-who-would-be Taoiseach, Michael Martin, hopping between stalls in the Farmer’s Market, filling out his bag-for-life as if he was a closet Green.

Nearby Simon Coveney, the-man-who-got-Brexit-done from an Irish perspective, was reported to be hovering. His campaign wagon was spotted at the periphery of the market.

Word filtered through that he was waiting for Michael to move on as the market wasn’t big enough for the both of them.

Across the way in Douglas Shopping Centre, Michael McGrath, the-man-who-would-be-Minister-for- Finance was calmly engaging with the shoppers en route to Dunnes Stores. Nearby, one of Mr Coveney’s advisors was spotted lurking, presumably scouting out that the coast was clear for his man to put in an appearance.

That’s how crowded it gets in the heart of Cork South-Central, which in terms of front line politicians, has never had it so good. Earlier in the morning, there was nearly an incident when Mr Martin was entering the sheriff’s office in Washington Street to lodge his papers and Simon Coveney’s pulled up in his wagon across the road.

Both men sensed that this was neither the time nor place for an OK corral incident so they appeared to pretend not to see each other.

Mr Coveney was accompanied into the office with his running mate Jerry Buttimer. Mr Martin went in alone. Michael McGrath topped the poll in the constituency in 2016, but the days have brightened up for his leader since then.

Signing my nomination form in the Cork City Sheriffs Office this morning.#AnIrelandForAll #GE2020 pic.twitter.com/TzK19bMIaK

— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) January 18, 2020

Back in Douglas, the-man-who-would-be-Taoiseach was filling up his bag for life with healthy juice and healthy veg and even healthy bread. “It’s medieval bread,” he says.

“Ancient recipe, the hillwalkers love it.” Just the job so for a man who’s going to be clocking up miles pounding concrete between here and February 8.

The polls are currently favourable to his party but he’s taking nothing for granted.

“It’s going to be a tough election, a closely fought election.

The issues of housing and health are very dominant in this campaign, along obviously with crime.

"Right across the country people are feeling uneasy and insecure and worried about where things are going after the violence last week.”

His bag filled, he heads off across the road, waving to motorists who toot as he marches on. He looks like a man on a mission, but whether his path is leading all the way to the big job or an exit from politics will become clear over the coming three weeks.