The Gist: Mutually Assured Destruction

From no-news to all-news in one day.

Count Gist

Howlin quits, FG/FF fits

Count Gist: The sound of silence

It's three days since the vote and everything has gone very quiet. In coffee shops all around Leinster House people are huddled in clumps, speaking in hushed tones, eyes darting at the door in case an enemy or journalist comes in. But, for the rest of us, everything

Count Gist: And in the End, the transfers you give....

It's Day 2 of the Count and we are into the realm of hilarity as the losing parties- who have never both lost the same election- struggle to come to terms with what's happened. The numbers have settled down and we know what the Dáil looks

Count Gist: Oh, Sweet Mystery of Life, At last I've found thee!

It's Day 1 of the count. The boxes are open. True things were said yesterday, and today we got to literally enumerate them. I love a count, me. There are thousands of stories across the country in a count. But here isn't the place for all

Count Gist: Poll postions, Adopt a constituency

It's day 0 of the count. The country went out and voted on a Saturday, for the first time since 1918. And, like 1918, Sinn Féin seem to have had a pretty good outing. So now we have to COUNT THE VOTES! And so, contrary to any common

Campaign Gist: How were things with you?

Day 25 and last and I thought I'd ask people what their experience of the campaign was. I asked what did you think at the start, did anything happen to change your mind during it, what you’d hope for after the count and why? Here are some

Campaign Gist: A forest of talk

Day 24 of the Campaign. Journalists and candidates alike are ashen-faced on the TV. Newsletter writers are mourning all the lost sleep of a daily email commitment. But somewhere else, under the rock and soil, the political landscape is rearranging. A forest of talk The time is running out. The

Campaign Gist: FG Party, SF breath-holding, FF?

Day 23 of the Campaign and nobody knows anything. So, let's take a tour through the strangeness together. Fine Gael Party (like it's 1932) The Taoiseach decided to give his media interview in front of a 1932 Cumann na nGaedheal poster which (apparently) hangs in Fine

Campaign Gist: Head to Head (to Head) Debate, CrossOver Event

Day 22 of the Campaign and we're having a mysterious old time about it. Nobody knows what's going to happen and everyone is holding their breath. Head to Head (to Head) It's a debate, FOR LEADERS! Prime Time was the venue for the latest

Campaign Gist: MRBAye-Aye-Aye!, Tragedy in Tipp, FG's living Post-Mortum

Day 21 of the Campaign and all is changed utterly. MRBAye-Carumba! The third poll in a row, showing Sinn Féin rising, comes from the Irish Times MRBI house. This is the poll it used to be said of, that if MRBI tell you you're dead, phone the undertaker.

Campaign Gist: FG splinters, SF

Day 20 of the Campaign. The last week looms, with suddenly a lot of novelty on the horizon. FG Splinters Richard Bruton and Catherine Noone. Paschal Donohoe on his soapbox. Soft focus videos of Simon Coveney. Suddenly, as the poll results came home and the reality of approaching opposition sank