Updated 6.25pm 

THE DÁIL IS off this week but that means politicians are focussing on the all-important constituency work.

One particularly important constituency is Carlow-Kilkenny, where there’s a by-election next month.

Tánaiste Joan Burton was there today to canvass with the Labour candidate, Willie Quinn, and junior minister and local TD Anne Phelan.

From the looks of Twitter there’s been the usual walking the streets, meeting the punters, shaking hands, and, er, having pictures taken with stag parties.

Then there was this when Burton paid a visit to local radio station, KCLR:

Yep, it’s a rooster. Just casually hanging out on the Tánaiste’s shoulder.

No biggie.

Update: We’re told that pictures of the Tánaiste with a very large goat and a Shetland pony from a medieval zoo were also taken. Unfortunately they might never see the light of day.

She also met with the Renua Ireland’s candidate, councillor Patrick McKee:

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