My other half and her mother met Sean Gallagher in Letterkenny on Saturday. The ‘mother in law’ heard he was going to be in town so bus times were checked and there was going to be a run in for messages made. ‘Where is he, I wonder what time he’s going to be in at?’ The fact he is bald and reminds her of her son is an added bonus. She was starstruck. (Her daugher claims she was pushed in to say hello.)

The text message I got said it all. ‘He asked me my name’. Looking at Gallagher on television you can see how he greets people and pats them on the arm and looks into their eyes and appears interested. It’s all positive stuff, no sob stories. ‘Its very lovely to meet you ladies’.

Miriam Lord analyses the technique further in the Irish Times today. Gay Mitchell is trying to play the celebrity card against him. That won’t work as he goes around playing up the entrepreneur card attracting people into the country seemingly and it’s clear that this election people are averse to negative campaigning. The ‘Mother in Law’ is convinced he’ll get people into Ireland to make jobs. I wasn’t in Donegal at the weekend so didn’t get a chance to discuss the nature of the constitutional limitations of the presidency with her. Sean Gallagher shook her hand and looked her in the eye and sure he’s great on the telly. She’s since favourited his website. Job done.