New Job: Campaign Manager, Ireland East
As many of you will already have heard, I will be starting a new job in January. I’ve been appointed Labour Party campaign manager for the European Elections in Ireland East. Our candidate there is Nessa Childers (and yes, you do recognise the name, she’s the daughter of (Fianna Fáil) President Erskine H Childers and granddaughter of Civil War leader Robert Erskine Childers). As Suzy points out, she’s a former Green Party Councillor on Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, and before that she was a member of the Labour Party.
It’s going to be a tough job for the next six months but it’s a challenge I’m really looking forward to. Liz McManus TD (one of the few TDs to blog on a semi-regular basis) is Director of Elections, and with Nessa being a member of the party in Bray, and me being originally from Ashford, we’ll have a strong Wicklow presence. We’ve already been out and about working on the campaign – including canvassing in Louth with Senator Dominic Hannigan and Cllr Eoin Holmes before Christmas, and I’m lucky to be joining the team after plenty of groundwork has already been put in by other local TDs and Councillors (and Labour staff).
Unemployed in June? Am I entirely mad?
The second part of the plan, for those asking why the hell any one would give up a permanent job for a six month contract given the “prevailing economic circumstances”, is to do a full time MBA starting in July or August. I’m currently looking at UBC in Vancouver, University of Western Ontario, and of course Smurfit here in Dublin. I’m also investigating what seems like an interesting double MBA with a tech leaning in Singapore and Japan. I think that the next few years are going to be very tough in Ireland, so no better time to get some more education under my belt – especially education tha will greatly increase my employability and earning potential. More on all that anon.
A good start is half the work
I start the new job on January 5th – exactly five months to the day before the Local and European Elections count takes place (the elections, which by law have to take place on the same day are currently scheduled for June 4th). It’ll be a busy time, but I’ll keep the blog updated nonetheless. Maybe I’ll even rob some of Damien’s ideas from last year.
Wish me luck (or do something more practical if you live in Leinster and vote #1 for Childers!).
Firstly, are you really considering paying $50,000 course fees for the double MBA? (though it does look like fun, it would want to come with guaranteed earnings of about €250,000 a year at that price!)
Secondly, and much more importantly, congratulations! Enjoy the few days off before your life disappears for five months!
That’s Sin$50,000 (€25,000), Neil! All of them cost around €40,000 to €55,000 including living costs.
[...] to my site using a feedreader or email. Thanks for visiting – Damien.Congrats to Keith on his great gig in the East. Best of [...]
Well Keith,
Good luck with the next five months. I was involved in Labour’s last campaign in Ireland East – quite an experience…
Thanks Francis. Hope you’ll be involved this time too!
Interesting times ahead for you. East does seem to throw up some shall we say ‘intriguing’ candidates like Seanan O Coistin and of course the magic that was Clifford T Reid. If you can steer Nessa away from the likes of them it should be a fun experience. I presume that at this stage much of Mary White’s support is in play.
[...] mentioned before, I’m hoping to do an MBA in the second half of this year. The first step in that journey is [...]
[...] as discussed before, I’m planning on doing a full time MBA later this year (starting [...]
Hi Dan,
Seanán Ó Coistín here. Thanks for your “intriguing” comment. I gather from the tone of the message that you have certain opinions of me. Perhaps you may elaborate some more and explain what you mean.
I met Nessa Childers in the KFM studios when both of us were on a panel. I found her to be a very nice, intelligent and charming woman. I thought she would have made an excellent MEP and that is why I voted her number 1 in the European elections this year. I guess her meeting me did her some help as she got a vote from me which helped to elect her.
I met you there too Seanán. Intruiging is a good thing – better than boring!
Too bad you didn’t run yourself this year, but thanks for the vote anyway.