Michael Brennan’s election week: Saving Private Joan

The party is still getting a hostile reception in working class areas

Gerry Adams (Sinn Féin), Taoiseach Enda Kenny (Fine Gael), Tánaiste Joan Burton (Labour) and Micheál Martin (Fianna Fáil) at the TV3 Leaders’ Debate Picture: Maxwells

It’s going to be all hands on deck for Labour in Dublin West to save Tánaiste Joan Burton’s seat.

Labour members who have been out canvassing with her acknowledging that the party is still getting a hostile reception in working class areas in the constituency such as Mulhuddart and Corduff.

But the message is that the middle classes, who were in a grumpy mood around the time of the local elections, are more ...