Kenny braves winds to put wind behind FG sails

MAYO provides a hostile environment nowadays. Both for Fianna Fáil leaders who are moving to drum the Flynn dynasty from the party, and for Fine Gael leaders even though they may come from the county.

But the manner of hostility Enda Kenny faced yesterday was not political. It was an even-more all-consuming reality of Irish life, the weather.

On the second day of a two-day whistlestop tour of the country by air, the FG leader's eight-seater plane was really tested to the limit by the conditions.

A stiff wind made for a very rocky flight for Mr Kenny and the two FG North-West candidates Jim Higgins and Madeleine Taylor Quinn on the leg between Shannon and Mayo airport.

The plane, emblazoned with the FG logo, was buffeted by the high winds and the entourage was unable to continue to Sligo Airport as planned.

The criss-cross tour of the country is the opening gambit and publicity stunt of Fine Gael's election campaign, in an effort to get early momentum behind its efforts to retain its four Euro seats and its 32% of council seats.

Mr Kenny is determined to out-Bertie Bertie on the hustings and vowed yesterday that he would shake 50,000 hands between now and June 11. That makes for an average of well over 1,000 hands a day.

This is the first big test of Mr Kenny's leadership and a poor showing would dent the tentative recovery Fine Gael is beginning to show and his growing confidence as leader.

Essentially, the quickie airport visits were less about meeting the people than motivating the party faithful, who turned out in respectable numbers at the regional airports along the western seaboard. If the Fine Gael leader wants any lessons in showmanship, he need look no further than his constituency colleague, Michael Ring.

The irrepressible Mayo TD was first out to greet the leader on the apron at Knock, having donned a day-glo yellow safety vest.

In an informal press conference, Mr Kenny quipped that if he returned to Mayo as Taoiseach, Mr Ring could pilot the Government jet, "in between funerals" a reference to the Westport deputy's legendary reputation for attending funerals.

In Knock, North-West candidate Jim Higgins said the BMW region is losing out hugely under the National Development Plan compared to other areas.

The Fine Gael leader will complete the tour by flying from the north west to Waterford this morning.