Fine Gael’s spending war in Dun Laoghaire

[Maximus]

Those of you following the epic spending war in Dun Laoghaire between two of Fine Gael’s “perspective" General Election candidates John Bailey and Eugene Regan may have noticed a further escalation in hostilities.

The front in this instance is the entire south side media market where Bailey and Regan have been purchasing increasing amounts of premium advertising space in the local free sheets. Not a week goes past now without one of the duo being pictured on the front page of one or another of the rags.

This week alone Regan was pictured along side former Fine Gael leader Garret FitzGerald in a €400 spot on the front page of the South Side People , with Bailey occupying a €250 spot on page 3. Not to be out done Bailey appeared on a €400 front page spot in Lifetimes with Regan appearing an another premium spot inside.

Given the questionable effectiveness of this form of expenditure, (a bus shelter campaign would cost the same and be far more effective locally) one can only assume the adverts are being taken out to impress potential convention delegates and hacks in Fine Gael Head Office who are soon to make a decision on the composition of the ticket.

With expenditure on now running into the €10,000s and Fine Gael Headquarters’ preferred candidates Seán Barrett and Marie Baker sitting pretty on their intact war chests, one wonders which of the two will come to their senses or exhaust their resources first?

[rockofcashel]

someone else wonders...

who cares... its their money, let them waste it how they wish

[morryah]

Good post, if a little OTT ('epic' ).

Keep us informed. Thanks.

[Sidewinder]

Can all the candidates around the country keep this up for a whole year? It already feels almost like the election has been called!

[Maximus]

Good post, if a little OTT ('epic' ).

Given Regan declared expenditure of €45,000 for the 3 week period of the local elections in 2004 I would have thought epic was actually an understatement. :wink:

[Hasan]

Bailey is the better man - the last thing we need is another pompous git like Regan getting on the ticket, isn't it bad enough that they've dragged Hogan's best buddy Sean Barrett out of retirement - talk about jobs for the boys!! This old crap isn't going to get us anywhere!

Baker is streets ahead of the others, they should have left Barrett in the old folks home and rolled out Bailey senior and junior instead...

[morryah]

Good post, if a little OTT ('epic' ).

Given Regan declared expenditure of €45,000 for the 3 week period of the local elections in 2004 I would have thought epic was actually an understatement. :wink:

I'll allow it. Continue.

[KingKane]

Good post, if a little OTT ('epic' ).

Given Regan declared expenditure of €45,000 for the 3 week period of the local elections in 2004 I would have thought epic was actually an understatement. :wink:

How much has Tom Brabazon spent since the locals on advertising? He's in Northside more often that anti-social behaviour at what I understand to be €400 a pop. There was I innocently thinking he was content with just being a councillor when he ups and has a go at Deirdre 'the raisin smuggler' Heney!

[Vanilla]

I know of a PD Town Councillor who was elected by putting full-page B&W ads in the local rag for the 6 weeks running up to the election. He did no canvassing, at all

Probably for the best. The guys is a pompous ****************************************** and a canvass would do him no good

[Smashey]

Maximus's usual rant apart, I brought a similar idea up on the DS thread basically is advertising in the local free rags in Dublin actually worth it and more importantly is the news coverage, Jim O'Leary, Chris Andrews and even former Cllr Barry Saul all get decent press quite regularly.

And as for Reagan going toe to toe with Bailey in a epic, remember Maximus that TDs such as Barry Andrews & Michael Mulcahy more than frequently use the same sheets to advertise from!