Contrast of styles shows that visibility isn’t everything

IT’S not all about visibility. Hughie Baxter’s image is everywhere in the North West constituency.

As you move closer to his home turf in Co Roscommon, the posters become more numerous, those stylish three-quarter length mid-shots used by the Labour Party in the European elections.

Mr Baxter is, after all, contesting two elections. In one, the Europeans, he doesn't have a snowballs hope in hell. He's showing at single figures in the polls. But standing, he points out, was never about winning, more about establishing a bridgehead and cohesion in a constituency that was always barren territory for his party.

But his own county has also been barren territory for Labour.

Mr Baxter said that he half-volunteered was half-coaxed to run for the party in Europe. But he himself was insistent that he stand in his own electoral area of Strokestown, which is a solidly rural area, notwithstanding that others believed he may have a better chance elsewhere.

In fact, Mr Baxter, though he said he feels confidence, has his work cut out to win one of the four seats in the constituency and, in the process, become the first Labour councillor in Roscommon for over 40 years. It may well be that the party's euro candidate may even find a council seat out of reach, for now.

The Strokestown electoral area extends from two miles from Roscommon town to Elphin and across to Roosky and up to Ballyleague. It is predominantly rural, encompassing a big geographical area.

Mr Baxter has travelled thousands of miles criss-crossing the constituency Tuesday in Monaghan was to be his last foray out of the county. But for the last few weeks, he has concentrated most of his efforts on the council.

He stood in the General Election in 2002. Both of the present electoral forays are preparing the ground for 2007. But with 650 votes in the last election, he has an Everestian task if he hopes to win a Dáil seat in the next General Election.

By contrast, if you're not from the area, you would have no idea that Sean Beirne is standing for elections. On the drive through the country to meet him in Lanesboro you do not come across a single lamppost that's adorned by his image.

Yet, as much as you can be sure about these things, the veteran Fine Gael councillor is assured of a seat. Mr Beirne, a farmer, is a thoughtful and philosophical man, a councillor of the old school.

"I am not a poster man as a rule," Mr Beirne said. "However, I have a number of posters strategically at locations that I feel will be of most benefit to me."

The configuration for Strokestown is unusual with one FF councillor, one FG and two Independents, one a hospital candidate and the other a former Fianna Fáiler.

Mr Beirne's prediction is that there will be no change but he does offer some hope to his Labour rival. "I feel that Baxter will poll very well and if there is to be surprise in it, he will be the one," he said.