Veteran Labour Party Canvasser Shares Election Insights in Dublin

Ah, the election season—when the weather gets as unpredictable as the voting trends! Here we have veteran Labour Party canvasser Brenda O’Connor keeping her eyes firmly glued to Met Éireann. That’s right, folks! There’s as much pressure on the weather as there is on the campaign trail. And let’s be honest, no one wants to trudge through a snowstorm whilst trying to persuade voters that their policies are the best thing since sliced bread.

At 66, Brenda’s out and about in the Dublin winter, knocking on doors with all the enthusiasm of a child on Christmas morning… assuming it’s not snowing! Normally, she’d be hoping for a furry white blanket of snow, but this year, her snowman aspirations take a backseat to electoral victories. She knows that a bit of winter wonderland might just turn the canvassing hustle into a scene from a horror movie. Nothing says ‘vote for me’ like getting stuck in a snowdrift outside someone’s house! Of course, if she meets the grumpy homeowners who’ve decided to stay in because of it, she might wish she’d brought a few snowballs to lighten the mood.

Brenda’s been in the game since 2007—before you could tweet, Instagram, or TikTok your political musings! Back then, canvassing was a straightforward affair involving good ol’ door-to-door visits and leaflet drops. She laments the simplicity of that time like an elderly gentleman reminiscing about the time he caught the biggest fish. By now, though, you can’t go anywhere without bumping into tech-savvy voters who know the candidate better than they know their washing machine settings, thanks to social media.

And let’s talk about these Ring doorbells! Talk about capturing the moment! Imagine explaining your political platform to someone through a screen. “Hello there! It’s Brenda from the Labour Party—sorry about the ringing doorbell, it’s just the robot I’m using to charm you today.” O’Connor feels slightly ridiculous at first talking to a doorbell, but then again, aren’t we all a bit ridiculous in this age of tech? The dialogue with a Ring doorbell could be smoother than some conversations you have in person! Maybe they should start charging them for the privilege of being canvassed.

O’Connor mentions that the camaraderie during canvassing is a lovely unexpected perk—something that drives volunteers to forge friendships. Who needs Tinder when you can get together with fellow party members and bond over how much people enjoy slamming doors in your face?

Not far from Brenda, we meet the younger Ellen O’Doherty, who’s been canvassing some serious ground for the Social Democrats. The 28-year-old has her own style of charming voters from a distance using those delightful Ring doorbells, known for their ability to make home intrusions a more comedic affair. Instead of face-to-face conversations with voters, she’s perfected the art of the Ring performance, speaking to cameras like she’s auditioning for the next big political sitcom.

Of course, both generations of canvassers are a bit more wary now, especially when it comes to safety at dusk. But no one’s worse for wear—after all, Ellen’s approach is about covering bases, doing headcounts like they’re secret agents on a mission to save democracy. Does she ever feel uncomfortable? Nah, she just checks her ring, gets a bit of fresh air, and continues charming the nation!

So as cold weather and general elections collide, let’s raise our glasses to Brenda, Ellen, and every spirited canvasser out there. Whether you’re leaving leaflets in the snow or winning hearts from the comfort of your front porch with a camera, remember: elections may come and go, but nothing warms the heart quite like a good chat. And honestly, if the action outside your door gets too heated, just blame it on the Ring doorbell’s nosiness!

Veteran Labour Party canvasser Brenda O’Connor, a dedicated grandmother from Drimnagh, Dublin, is diligently monitoring Met Éireann’s weather forecasts as polling day approaches.

At 66 years old, O’Connor expresses her anticipation for the winter season, stating, “Normally I’d be wishing for lots of snow and everything to be stopped but I wouldn’t want that now, not until after the general election.”

With less than a week until the election, O’Connor immerses herself in campaigning, hitting the streets most afternoons, evenings, and weekends to engage with voters through door-to-door canvassing, distributing leaflets, and putting up posters.

Since starting her involvement with the Labour Party approximately 20 years ago during the 2007 general election with former TD Eric Byrne, O’Connor has staunchly supported various candidates, including senator Rebecca Moynihan and current Dublin South Central candidate, Cllr Darragh Moriarty.

Reflecting on her early canvassing experiences, O’Connor notes that back in 2007, campaigning strategies were vastly different, relying purely on in-person interactions without the influence of social media.

“Now we find for instance when we bring Darragh [Moriarty] out into an area that we think he won’t be known in, quite a lot of people know him because they follow him on Instagram or Twitter or whatever,” she adds, highlighting the transformation in political engagement methods over the years.

Another significant development in canvassing has been the advent of ‘Ring’ doorbells equipped with cameras, enabling homeowners to see and communicate with visitors without opening the door.

She remarks, “They actually make it easier if people aren’t there because people would always say ‘I’m not at home, please leave a message’,” adding that this technology offers a more personal touch compared to traditional leaflet drops.

Despite the challenges of canvassing, including occasional confrontations at doorsteps, O’Connor shares, “Once you get out, there’s great camaraderie between us and we actually have a good time when we’re out canvassing, believe it or not.”

“It’s just a privilege to meet people on the doors and chat to them about what’s going on in their lives,” she reflects, emphasizing the rewarding aspect of her volunteering role.

Across the city, Ellen O’Doherty, a 28-year-old canvasser for the Social Democrats, has been actively engaging with constituents in Dublin Central in support of TD Gary Gannon.

Originally hailing from County Kerry, O’Doherty, now residing in the north inner city, has been a committed member of the Social Democrats since 2019 and even ran for office during the local elections this past June.

While she describes the overall reception at the doors as broadly positive, O’Doherty acknowledges a minority of constituents exhibit feelings that lean towards resentment or apathy.

Addressing concerns for safety during canvassing, particularly in the darker evenings, she insists that her experience has remained comfortable, emphasizing team awareness and preparedness, saying, “We just do a headcount before moving on to the next area.”

O’Doherty finds humor in the experience of encountering Ring doorbells, which she began to notice during her local election campaign, calling them “absolutely gas” and a unique addition to modern canvassing.

Sharing her approach, she notes, “What I do is speak directly to the camera and say ‘I’m just popping around on behalf of your local TD, I’m going to pop a leaflet in here for you, give it a read, I really appreciate it. Thanks very much.’”