It's Monday morning as I type this, before the workday starts, and being honest, I could have done with another hour or two in bed.

Four games over a weekend will take it out of a person after a busy work week. But what a delightful first world problem to have.

With the Presidential election on the horizon, canvassers were out in force, and when I arrived in Crossmolina to join the Catherine Connolly crew just before midday, the place was already buzzing.

Canvassing is very far out of my comfort zone; I’m notoriously poor at asking for help or favours, and asking for votes is no different. Particularly outside a county semi-final venue, where I felt more than a bit awkward.

This election offers a poor choice to the electorate, but having admired Connolly since her election to Galway City Council in 1999 when I lived in the city, and recognising that she’s not a “perfect” candidate (who is?), I still want a President with genuine empathy who cares about the most vulnerable, not just the wealthy.

It was an argument I found myself making several times over the weekend. I’m no salesperson, but if I convinced even a few people to vote at all, I’m happy enough with that.

Some reactions, though, were eye-openers.

“I’m still voting for Jim Gavin,” declared one dyed-in-the-wool Fianna Fáiler. “Even though he’s only a b****x.” (Before the day was out, I was thinking along similar lines, but more on that anon).

“We don’t need a President,” snarled another woman. Fair enough, I thought. No point in arguing. Some will say the Parish of Backs has always been a law unto itself!

It was a relief to take up a more familiar........

© The Mayo News