McGuinness has dog, not Aylward, on Facebook page 'because dog shows great loyalty'
By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith, Irish Examiner Political Reporter
Outspoken Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness has said the only reason his Facebook cover image is a picture of his dog instead of by-election candidate Bobby Aylward is because "she shows great loyalty to me".
McGuinness has been accused of failing to fully back Aylward's candidacy in Carlow-Kilkenny. Votes are being counted today, with Bobby Aylward leading the pack on over 28% of the vote.
Speaking to reporters at the Carlow Kilkenny count centre this afternoon, the local representative moved to deny claims he has not worked hard enough on his party colleague's campaign.
Mr McGuinness received criticism earlier this month after it emerged he went on a week-long trip to the Canary Islands in the midst of the campaign, adding fuel to a long-standing rivalry between the Aylwards and McGuinnesses in the constituency.
It has been mooted that the current chair of the Dáil's public accounts committee would not be completely crest-fallen if Aylward did not take today's seat, as it would protect his own position in the upcoming general election, and potentially open up a future route for his son - Kilkenny mayor councillor Andrew McGuinness - to make the step up to national politics.
In a bid to highlight the fact, he was asked by a local KCLR radio reporter why he had not attempted to boost the party candidate's profile by replacing the picture of his German Shepard dog Mikey on his facebook page with one of Bobby Aylward.
Rejecting the suggestion there is anything untoward behind the image as "nonsense", he said the dog is given pride of place because "she shows great loyalty to me".
"Why wouldn't I put her up there? I don't go around and do that [put up pictures of Bobby Aylward]…Every person to their own style of politics.
"I have my own style and I make no apology for that. People will nit-pick about the campaign itself, but you have to put differences to one side," he said.
The sitting TD also defended his decision to go on holidays during the election as "I don't believe it was an important part of the campaign" and that he has "designed the posters, manned the phones" and asked people to vote for Mr Aylward.
When asked if he had "asked for anything back" from party headquarters for this approach, Mr McGuinness said: "No I never do, I've never asked for anything back, bar a one vote in a general election campaign - that's what I'll be asking for in next campaign."
Fianna Fáil environment spokesperson and the party's director of elections for the campaign, Barry Cowen - who was standing beside Mr McGuinness as he made the remarks - said the "rivalry" between the Aylwards and McGuinnesses "has benefited the constituency over the years".
He insisted that the party now has "unity of purpose, unity of effort" based on the by-election campaign.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner on Tuesday during a canvass of an estate outside Carlow town, Mr Aylward and party leader Micheál Martin both rejected any suggestion there has been anything but full support for the candidate among his constituency colleagues.
