An election miscellany Compiled by Carl O'Brien.
Bearing his soul
It's the secret weapon Fianna Fáil has been holding back in reserve.
Opposition parties have been quivering, fearful this moment would come to pass. Election pundits, too, have speculated about it in hushed tones. Until now. Behold, ladies and gentlemen: the Bertie Bear.
Yes, it's the cute cuddly toy in Fianna Fáil colours designed to warm the hearts of even the most gnarled and cynical of voters. So maybe you're angry at being stuck on a hospital trolley for days? Or trapped in gridlock on the M50? Or having to listen to another Dick Roche lecture on radio?
But, shucks, how can you not give your first preference to Bertie's Team after seeing this little smiling face peering out at you?
On the ball
It looks like Sinn Féin's Dáil hopeful Pearse Doherty has been making a political football out of the Donegal GAA team. Literally, in this case, rather than metaphorically.
A video message featuring four of the team dressed in the official Donegal team kit and endorsing the Sinn Féin candidate was on the party's website. However, it was taken down after GAA officials insisted the organisation was above politics and should not be used to support any one party or candidate.
Hmm . . . try telling that to GAA stars and election candidates Graham Geraghty (Fine Gael candidate for Meath West), John O'Mahony (Fine Gael candidate for Mayo) and Jimmy Deenihan (All-Ireland medallist and Fine Gael candidate for Kerry North).
Ready, teddy, go
What is it with teddy bears? Suddenly, it seems, they've become mandatory for candidates seeking to emphasise their more caring side.
Check out Dr Róisín Healy, an Independent candidate running in Dublin South Central, the only candidate to feature a teddy bear in her campaign poster.
The former Crumlin hospital paediatrician is campaigning for a better health service and quality of life for children.
"The teddy bear is a symbol of childhood and it's used out of respect for children," she told Campaign Trail. "I didn't want to use a live citizen who wasn't capable of giving their consent."
Chocs away
"Vote No 1 - Leo the Lion"
Fine Gael reaches a new low in election gimmickry, handing out specially themed Lion bars to promote candidate Leo Varadkar in Dublin West.