Always give the impression you’re on top of everything, as PJ Mara did

In a campaign, HQ is a warzone, fuelled by paranoia and occasional outbursts of euphoria, writes Terry Prone

ne thing was sure about PJ Mara, who died just before the weekend after a long illness. He knew politicians. More to the point, he knew what general elections do to politicians.

I remember at one point being part of an election committee belonging to Fianna Fáil which met every morning during the campaign in their offices in Mount Street under the chairmanship of the late Seamus Brennan. Every morning brought its serving of chaos with a side order of disaster.