Colleagues turn competitors as election finally gets underway 

There was no time to hang around and reminisce though, with the parties postering and handshaking after — and in some cases before — President Michael D Higgins formally dissolved the Dáil.

Coalition colleagues now opponents

Tánaiste Micheál Martin and the Taoiseach were on the ground quickly, asking the public to stand shoulder to shoulder with them in backing their candidates.

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Having navigated government together with the addition of the Greens over the past four and a half years, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael now find themselves on opposing sides — at least for the next three weeks of what will be a rapid-paced campaign.

It was perhaps poetic that their first interaction of this campaign would happen at the Bridge Pub as both men converged with the thousands of rugby supporters making their way to the Aviva Stadium for Ireland’s clash with the All Blacks on Friday night.

But ne’er the twain would actually meet on day one of the campaign, despite being in the same establishment at the same time. 

Harris and his team ensconced themselves upstairs, grabbing a quick burger and chips in the packed-out rugby haunt, while downstairs Martin worked for his vote, pulling pints behind the bar as a scrum of phones rose in the air to capture the moment.

Moving at speed, the Taoiseach’s hi-vis-clad supporters departed en masse through a side door and punters wanting a selfie had to jog and snap as Harris didn’t miss a beat, tearing down Shelbourne Rd with his doughnut of supporters, stopping only for milliseconds to greet children who had been selected by his team.

Making his way out of the bar, Martin did bump into wayward Fine Gael minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who, at home amongst the rugby set, was lingering on the ground floor. 

Up for the match was Nigel Hayes, who in the rush to shake hands with Mr Martin, let €10 drop to the floor. 

The note fell from his palm as the Clonakilty man regaled the Fianna Fáil leader over winning a county final a number of years ago.

Like a man training to take part in Olympic race-walking, the Taoiseach racked up his steps around the streets of the stadium. 

The Tánaiste took a more low-key approach, stopping at the corner of Landsdowne Rd to talk to matchgoers. 

Both leaders paid tribute to the men in green, having done their best to leave an impression on a cold November in Dublin 4. 

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald also attended the match but, unlike her rivals who were pressing the flesh at varying degrees of speed well in advance of kick-off, she made a hasty entrance a few minutes before the whistle blew. 

Ladders up lampposts

Of course, campaigning has been well underway for some time now and certainly before the Taoiseach finally blew the official whistle on the election on Friday.

Under the protection of darkness on Thursday night, teams of volunteers were seen skulking around lamp posts up and down the country.

Election poster enthusiasm could yet prove costly for candidates of all political hues who may yet be found to be in breach of the Litter Pollution Act 1997.

On Friday morning, a 15-metre banner calling on voters to "end 100 years of FF/FG" was unfurled and tied to the iconic railings of the Ha'penny Bridge by People Before Profit.

Around the confines of the Dáil, mobile adverts brandishing both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin seemed to be doing laps of Merrion Square.

Day one down, 20 more frantic campaign days to go.