Irish Examiner View: Political connections are best made in the real world

There is no substitute for meaningful personal interaction between politicians and constituents, even if the convenience of social media can be more appealing than face-to-face encounters with unhappy voters 

Seán Ó Feargháil criticised focus on social media rather than voter contact. Picture: Moya Nolan

For politicians of every stripe, one of the biggest challenges is visibility.

No matter what the party or ideology, being noticed by the electorate is always a pressing concern. There is a very good reason why politicians try to get to funerals in their constituencies — where, legend has it, the most practised of them sign the condolence book across two or three lines to make sure their presence is not missed.