So this is my secong time covering an election. The last one being the Irish General Election back in 2007, in which I was also canvassing. This year is the same.
The election campaigns get offically underway in Ireland next Monday when the rules about election spending come into force and the last few weeks has seen a good bit of money spent by candidates before the rules come in.
This weekend sees the launch of my parties campaign. Fine Gael (EPP) are holding their Ard Fheis (National Conference) this weekend and all the MEP’s and Candidates have been given roles in chairing sessions. Fine Gael is running six candidates. There are twelve seats up for election. So we have tough but do-able campaign ahead of us. In my own constituency of Ireland South we are running two candidates in a three seat constituency. It will be a tough battle here alone as the three sitting MEPs are all based in Cork, but more on that at a later point.
I myself will be attending Ard Fheis and I have media accreditation for it so will have online access. There will be a gang of Irish political bloggers at the conference, blogging and tweeting (watch #fgaf on twitter).
The first session of the Ard Fheis is on Ireland on the International Stage (which covers the EU), I will be live blogging from that session not sure how many others will be there. That session will be a good indication on how Fine Gael members think about the EU and the Lisbon Treaty (Fine Gael members were a high percentage of no voters). An interesting session it should be. The full timetable is here (PDF) if you are interested.
Ard Fheis will mark the start of the election campaign in Ireland (we have Local Elections as well) and that means a busy two months for me canvassing, leaflet dropping, blogging and other bits and pieces too (oh yea and my actual job too!). Electionering is fun, tiring, exciting and gets you fit! I am really looking forward to the campaign trail!
To the campaign trail! 
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I wish you the best of luck and I hope you have fun.
I’d like to know a little more about Fine Gael and oppositions, who wants what?
I know very little about Irish politics
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Best of Luck Stephen! One seat out of three looks easy for Fine Gael, but two is a very big ask! With Fine Gael getting one, Fianna Fail another, who is the favourite for the third? Kathy Sinnott the independent MEP comes across as a bit of a head case sometimes! Have you got any polling data? Have Labour got a chance or who is most likely candidate to upset the sitting three members?
I plan to interview Dick Roche, Minister for European Affairs and my local TD shortly. Have you any questions you want me to ask him?
What are your targets for gains/holds in the local elections?
Well Helena, Fine Gael are the mian oppistion party in Ireland. I could be all day explaining Irish politics so check the wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_in_Ireland for some groundings in it, and then ask me any more questions you have!
Frank,
I could right a blog post answering your comment! We are hoping to reproduce what we did in Ireland East in 2004. Sinnott is head case (see http://stephenspillane.com/blog/index.php/2009/03/i-was-going-to-vote-for-you-but-your-a-looooon/). I have no polling data as none has been carried out at the moment, but if the vote is split right then two seats are possible. Labour dont seam to have a momentum down hear yet. Sean Kelly seams most likely to take one of the seats, not sure from who.
As for questions for Dick Roche, how much of a pay cut is he willing to take?!