Rating European Election Hopefuls on Their Social Media
I’d like to start this post by saying that I’m in no way interested in Irish politics. I don’t know my Fianna Fáil from my Fianna Gael or even the difference between the Dáil and the Oireachtas. To me they’re all just buzz words in the media that I blissfully ignore. I do however, make sure I vote when it comes to election or referendum time. This is more out of a needless sense of duty than an idea that I’m part of a bigger movement that can make real change. What I’m interested in however, is how social media has come into play with elections over the last few years. With fake news and scandals over groups like Cambridge Analytica, the likes of Google and Facebook have had to reassure us that their platforms are not being unfairly exploited to push political agendas.
These channels do however allow political ads to be promoted under their respective guidelines and rules. For example, Facebook allows these ads to be run as long as they meet their criteria and do not breach any laws associated with campaigning in said relevant country. Ever since Obama’s campaign in 2009, people have witnessed the power social media and technology has to raise awareness, funding and develop a groundswell of empowered volunteers during campaigns. So are this years Irish European election hopefuls taking advantage of Social media in the right ways? Do all serious candidates now need to have “Pinterest Policies”, “Insta - Initiatives” and manifestos that fit perfectly into 260 characters? Are Twitter polls now a good indicator for what will happen at the polling station?
I’ve taken a look at some of the more interesting candidates running for European Election this year and will rate them on how I feel their social media usage could help or hinder them when it comes to the ballot box. You may be thinking that most of them would be pretty clueless when it comes to striking a chord with their respective audiences online and you wouldn’t be wrong. So lets get into it…
Ming Flanagan - Independent
Like a mix between a wizard and a character from Father Ted, Luke “Ming” Flanagan has been an MEP for the Midlands North West Constituency since 2014 and is now running for his seat again. He swears by social media as a tool to spread his message and has over over 80,000 followers across his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I strangely got hit with an Instagram story ad promoting his self made documentary called “Taking the job seriously”. You can find it on Youtube and I’m not going to lie it’s a bit of a masterpiece that should be on Netflix instead!
The documentary also has over 167,000 views as of today and so no doubt has both a lot of interest (and spend) behind it that he hopes will build awareness. He’s like a cartoon character in large parts of it and I can’t help but like him regardless of being none the wiser as to what he does by the time it was over. I asked my dad what he thought of him for some greater context and I can’t even publish what he uttered back at me. A 7/10 from me though with 1 or 2 points going for that Goatee alone!
Maria Walsh - Fine Gael
Many successful Irish politicians have drawn on one thing to captures the attention of their constituents - pageantry. Maria Walsh won the Rose of Tralee in 2014 so definitely knows a thing or two about pageantry. When you think about it the Rose of Tralee and political elections aren’t really all that different. One is an outdated premise full of clueless people parading on a stage struggling to answer simple questions, while the other is a fantastic beauty competition. Maria’s one of the more memorable winners in recent years and I have to say, her campaign video is pretty impressive.
Her Instagram looks like your typical twenty something’s Instagram too with just a spattering of political posts #relatable. With this being a clear move from Fine Gael to engage a younger base with someone that many would look up to, I think it will pay off. Only thing that may go against her here though is that she’s been a pioneer for over 20 years. An expenses scandal Irish people could probably overlook, but refusing a pint from from her EU counterparts after a long day in Brussels? That is unacceptable! A solid 8/10 as she is still one of the most #relatable ones running!
Ben Gilroy - Independent
A graduate of the "school of hard knocks" AND the "University of Life" according to his Facebook (which has over 7,000 followers), I'm genuinely not sure if Ben Gilroy is actually a real person! If telling you he's going to take down corruption, unlawful evictions and other evils isn't enough, he's more than willing to demonstrate how serious he is in the bluntest of ways. I can only imagine the sit down where his team thought up the below idea
Gilroy will no doubt attract attention with this stunt online but will the mainstream media pay attention? Not according to him they won't because “they’ve blocked him out of debates” due to their bias in favour of “talkers who do the talk” (whatever that means). 9/10 would vote for him to avoid a clatter!
Paul Gogarty - Independent
There’s few moments in politics that are burned into the minds of the general public. They are usually limited to the results of major referendums, government scandals and moments where high profile politicians clash with each other. Paul Gogarty managed to capture the attention of the nation nearly 10 years ago when this happened
I’ve seen every season of House of Cards and the intensity in that never reaches anything like what we saw in the Dáil that day. The moment where he takes a second to apologise, fully knowing the consequences of what he is about to say is nothing short of iconic. He’s since gone on to be the mayor of South Dublin and is actually only running for local elections this time but that wouldn’t stop me from honouring here! If he doesn’t get in either he can focus on his other passions which just so happen to include a career as a pop star alter ego - His Sweet Surprise. I know what tunes I’ll be blaring on the way to the polls! 8/10 will always be a hero in my eyes.
Rita Harrold - Solidarity/People Before Profit
I was driving to work recently and couldn’t help but notice Rita’s posters over all the other ones buckled to the lamp posts. Instead of the usual standard profile photos we are used to seeing, Rita’s almost has a revolutionary feel to it. There’s shades of Che Geuvara about her power stance whilst holding that megaphone and wearing her Repeal jumper. The words “A Socialist Feminist Voice” on all of her materials will no doubt resonate with a lot of younger people in her Dublin based constituency.
Image via: Rita4Dublin Facebook Page
She has compiled a list of TD’s who are also Landlords and shared it on social media to demonstrate why we’ve found ourselves in such a housing crisis. It’s these kind of bold moves that will set her apart as a hero against the evil conventional party politicians. I’m tipping her to have a massively successful career in Irish politics! I think it was Batman or one of his mates who said - “You either die as a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become a landlord!” 7/10 lets all eat the rich!
Hermann Kelly - Irish Freedom Party
We’ve all heard of Brexit but how many of us have been following the not nearly as catchy “Irexit?” Looking a lot like a Tesco Value Nigel Farage, Hermann Kelly is the founder of the Irish Freedom Party that want Ireland to leave the EU. What better way to make sure that happens than by running for election as an MEP. His policies are straight from the UKIP playbook and talk about taking back control of our money, borders and future! They even tried to get their own “Irexit Bus” (still doesn’t have the same ring to it) doing the rounds across Dublin but we’re thwarted by the CIE apparently!
Image via: Irish Freedom Party Facebook Page
With a poll last year claiming that 90% of the Irish public support the EU, is Hermann barking up the wrong tree? The Freedom Party Facebook page has over 8,000 followers and the comment sections on the controversial posts show that they’ve clearly tapped into something. 6/10 could do “A Farage”.
Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames - Non Party
The last candidate I’ll be examining is Fidelma Healy Eames because she’s more well known for her lack of knowledge about social media than her ability to communicate through it. She once spoke very seriously at the Oireachtas in 2013 about the horrifying trend of “Fraping”. Credit to Fidelma though back in 2015 she also warned us about how obsessed our young people were with the online world. So much so that they wander like nomads from place to place in search of the “wiffy” code.
Despite sounding like your Uncle who just discovered that you can skip the ads when watching recorded programmes on Sky, Dr Healy Eames now has over 4,000 on Twitter and could be a dark horse in her constituency. If she fails then knowing this country she’ll probably be made head of the National Broadband Plan! 5/10 does not know how to pronounce WIFI.
Whatever way you vote in these upcoming elections, I hope this piece has given you an insight into the amazing world of Irish politics. In a time when many consider the future of the EU to be threatened, I’ve no doubt that this beautiful bunch of candidates can put this country and Europe back where we need to be (wherever that is).
If you want to chat about politics, then please don’t get in touch with me. You can however follow me on my Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for future blog posts that I promise will have nothing to do with politics!