By their own admission, Fianna Fail are embarked on a project to win back the hearts and minds of Irish voters. It's proving quite an undertaking but don't discount the Soldiers of Destiny just yet.

Born out of revolutionary politics, the party has weathered many a storm and hardcore cumann members around the country are firm in their believe that the wheel will turn.

Locally, the O'Keeffe name remains synonymous with Fianna Fail and while the 'Ned era' may be over, son Kevin has shown himself to be a resourceful and streetwise operator at county council level. Kevin's name will be on the ballot paper for the Fermoy Municipal Area and for a significant section of the voting public the O'Keeffe name is 'still good'.

Combining your 50th birthday into an election launch may not count as a political master stroke, nevertheless, it did help focus minds and put Kevin's name 'out there' - it also brought together the varying strands of support that the O'Keeffe's have been able to draw on over the years - support that continues to make them a potent political force.

At last Sunday evening's event in Walsh's Bar, Mitchelstown, where a minute's silence was observed in tribute to  another candidate Phil Leahy , who died suddenly on Sunday morning , you had family members (obviously), neighbours (understandably) and well-wishers in a variety of guises. Critically, you also had individuals from the business community; you had farmers, sole traders, modest shareholders, entrepreneurs, get up and go types, GAA types, horseracing types and no nonsense types who are a bit like Kevin himself - solid if unspectacular.

Everyone present, barring a few young O'Keeffe's who contented themselves running around outside, are voters and they won't let 'their man' down come election day. The challenge for Kevin and company is to get this group of voters to convince other groups of voters to also 'do the right thing'.

Cllr Kevin O'Keeffe is 50 years of age, he's as fit, strong and able as he's going to get and another stint as a county councillor may just be what the doctor ordered. His 'solid if unspectacular' approach has served him well to date - the election is coming, the canvassing is starting to get serious, the O'Keeffe's are ready to go - the name is still good.

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