The parties can't party ...

THIS week has shown that while the political faithful can run an admirable campaign

THIS week has shown that while the political faithful can run an admirable campaign. the one thine they can't organise is a party. All the talk in the last few days has been of polls. debates and marginals with only the merest hint of an old knees up, when everybody knows that lasting impressions are made by just how - or rather where - you watch the count.

On going to print, Fianna Fail was out in front with at least some sort of a bash organised at its media centre on St Stephen's Green this evening while the Democratic Left was waiting until tomorrow to have its bunfight.

The Green Party had an impromptu bash during the week when bands and musicians including the Mary Janes, The Wilde Oscars, Igloo, Naimee Colman and Ise from the Restless Natives gathered in the Temple Bar Music Centre for an event entitled Rock the Vote in support of candidate Ciaran Cuffe. Ally the rest seem to think the RDS would suffice for entertainment - pah!

For the rest of us it'll be a choice between shouting and cheering with John Bowman on the box or booing and chortling with his son Jonathan Philbin Bowman on 98FM's Out For The Count. While the former has serious election coverage to offer, the latter has Pauline McLynn, and what Philbin Bowman calls a "terribly alternative" approach. Either way, it's time to crack open those beers or that fine chardonnay and put your feet up; the party is in your own home for tonight.