'Not long now', says Taoiseach as he canvasses for general election in Cork

“Not long now” was Taoiseach Simon Harris’s answer to when the general election might be, as he stopped briefly after an hour-long tour of Cork’s Marina Market on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon.

The question of the election’s timing might be on the lips of politicians and journalists the country over, but it didn’t seem to be troubling too many of the people he met among the hundreds out for fast food on the slow tail of the jazz weekend.

The Taoiseach’s whistle-stop tour of Cork was strictly a Fine Gael affair, and he was travelling without his usual retinue of Government handlers and advisors as he gave his blessing to the three party candidates in Cork South Central.

He had called first to the Carrigaline Court Hotel, where he met Cork county councillor Úna McCarthy amongst her own people.

Then it was on to the Grange/Frankfield community centre, where Shane O’Callaghan introduced him to members of the Douglas/Frankfield Men’s Shed.

The final stop on the Harris hop was a packed Marina Market, where the Taoiseach met Seanad Cathaoirleach Jerry Buttimer, surrounded by his own honour guard canvassers.

After Mr Harris (“Hi, I’m Simon”) had posed for a photograph with what seemed to be every single one of the 2,000-plus people there, he stopped briefly on his way back to his car to give his blessing to Jerry, “a great friend, a great colleague of mine”.

He urged the people of Cork South Central “to back Jerry Buttimer, to back the Fine Gael team in Cork South Central, so we can have that new energy and real focus to deliver for the people in Cork”, which is an interesting look for a party that has been in government since 2011.

“I have to say it’s absolutely brilliant being here at this market and here in the buzz in the city after the great weekend of the Jazz Festival, I promise I’m coming back for it next year, so I’m really looking forward to that,” he said.

It was Jerry’s turn to thank the Taoiseach, and to ask the people of Cork South Central “for your support in the election,” at which he turned to Simon and said: “whenever you call it”.

“Not long now,” came the reply.