David Davin-Power: Sweet discourse of FF nowhere to be heard in Longford

“Sure even the dogs in the street are Fianna Fáil in Longford,” the delighted owner of a pair of cute pomeranians reassured party leader Micheál Martin in a canvass that was marked by quite a few canine encounters.

Later, Mr Martin admired Sashie and Sheba, two formidable huskies — their owner Jerry Gibbons insisting he has trained them not to bite politicians — and cautiously petted a large poodle through a car window a few moments later.