FG leader canvass:Enda Kenny was assiduous in his determination not to get involved in the Taoiseach's payments controversy and the Progressive Democrats' crisis on Saturday.
As the Fine Gael leader canvassed in Limerick, Ennis and Galway, he insisted: "I'm focused on the 24th. The PDs are irrelevant to the formation of the next government."
"Michael McDowell suffers from delusions in some respect. He has reflected before and his decision after that reflection was to speak behind his hand and say that we managed to get through it."
He started the day in a very taoiseach-like manner, arriving by helicopter at Na Piarsaigh GAA club in Limerick, welcomed by former party leader Michael Noonan and fellow Limerick East candidate Kieran O'Donnell.
Was it a kind of dry run? "To be able to travel from Castlebar to here in 45 minutes is certainly a privilege for me 'cos generally I'm stuck in traffic as well as everyone else."
Then, he added: "I wouldn't say it's a dry run but you know we could get used to it, I suppose."
In Limerick city centre, where like in Ennis and Galway, he got applause, adulation, challenges, and verbal abuse, Máire Hurley Tobin, originally from Killorglin, gave Enda a big hug and kiss. "We need a change," she said.
There was an involved discussion with a woman who told him she wanted to be relocated because of a neighbour who had pleaded guilty to four counts of abusing her son, but only got a two-year suspended sentence. "He lives five doors away," she said.
At the market he was challenged by a young man, Shane Kiely, who demanded: "Why won't you ban blood sports? I can't vote for you because you won't ban them."
The current and former leaders shook hands with everyone, among them Tariq, a Pakistani stallholder. Asked afterwards if he knew who it was,Tariq replied firmly: "Noonan."
And the other guy? He didn't know. There was a similar incident a few moments later. "You're not Bertie," teenager Anne Ryan from Limerick said. "I'm not. There's only one Bertie and there's only one me," said Enda. "Who is he?" the teenager asked a reporter afterwards.
And then it was on the road to Ennis, with the convoy car keeping to the speed limits and the slow lane when on the dual carriageway.
An expectation that Enda and Bertie might cross paths in Ennis proved unfounded but the last of the Fianna Fáil supporters were still on O'Connell Square as the Fine Gael convoy inched in.
"Go home, go home," shouted a few people. "This is Bertie's town." But there were lots of smiles, jokes and handshakes there, too.
Then to Galway where at Eyre Square, as Enda was mobbed by well-wishers, candidates and media, Green Party mayor Niall Ó Brolcháin, emerged from a hotel and disappeared just as fast with no intention of being seen with Fine Gael.
When Enda headed for Shop Street, shaking hands and slapping backs, one passing woman said "oh, that's what's his name". A move to get him to pose beside a bicycle taxi was quickly vetoed by party handlers, who earlier offered more advice.
At lunch in Galway an observer noted that Enda moved to lift the water jug. An official said not to drink it, they'd get him bottled water.
Enda said he didn't want bottled water, but the jug remained untouched. At a stand asking people to sign a petition on the issue, Enda signed the petition, "Enda Kenny, we will sort this out".
At the bottom of Shop Street, he did his final "stump" of the day. Speaking with gusto through a megaphone, he was well into his stride when a passing motorist shouted, "you f****n' blueshirt."
Quick as a flash he retorted: "Thank you very much. I'm proud of it."
He promised he would bring the entire government back to Galway, adding: "I hope that we'll challenge them all to drink the water, but whether they do or not I can't force them."
A poisoned chalice?
