On the hustings: Election 2011 in pictures

Babies were kissed, the gloves came on (and off again) and debates were debated.

THEY CAME, THEY campaigned – will they conquer?

All will be revealed at the weekend but for now, content yourselves with remembering how the candidates of this election conducted themselves in just under a month of campaigning…

On the hustings: Election 2011 in pictures

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Can you hear me from here?
A laptop in the TV3 canteen shows a Fine Gael live web link to a public meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon where Enda Kenny was speaking instead of attending the first leaders' debate. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.
Valentine's Day love-in?
Frontline host Pat Kenny covers an awkward moment as Gerry Adams and Enda Kenny cosy up in advance of the five-way leaders' debate at RTE. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.
Hot Shots: Part Trois
Primetme presenter Miriam O'Callaghan with Micheal Martin, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore in the last leaders' debate this week. Pic: PA Images/Leon Farrell.
Merman, Dan, merMAN (apologies to Zoolander fans)
Greens' leader John Gormley lets Dan Boyle do the talking while he takes some water on board. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.
Collins? Why not.
Doesn't Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams look not at all uncomfortable with a supporter on the hustings in Drogheda. Pic: AP Photos/ Peter Morrison.
Remember this?
Aine Kavanagh's dad Conal (in poster on left) is running for Labour in Wicklow - but this pic is also noteworthy for being taken in the halycon days when 'Gilmore for Taoiseach' slogan was still doing the rounds... Pic: PA Images/Niall Carson.
The fabulous baker boys
Fine Gael's Richard Bruton and John Perry get the snacks in on the trail. Pic: Stephen Kilkenny.
Never work with kids
Enda betrays his past as a schoolteacher, showing that he does indeed have eyes on the back of his head. Pic: Stephen Kilkenny.
In his shoes
Labour's Pat Rabbitte puts the boot in at Dublin shoe store Korky's. Pic: Stephen Kilkenny.
The gloves come... on
Micheal Martin in the Glen Boxing Club in Cork city - his father Paddy was a champion boxer for the club in his day. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.
Suits you, sir
Sinn Fein's Aengus O Snodaigh tries to get away from the traditional 'election candidate dons boxing gloves' pic - by taking up kickboxing. PA Images/Julien Behal.
*gentle snore*
Fianna Fail's Eamon O Cuiv gave into trail fatigue - at his own party press conference. Pic: @BrianODTV3.
Pier pressure
Fine Gael's Eoghan Murphy hands a pamphlet to one of his campaign staff members Tiernan Sparks on the Great South Wall in Dublin. Yes, this pic was most likely posed. Pic:Naoise Culhane/Maxwells
The elephant in the room
This explanation of the economic situation from the 9-year-old daughter of TheJournal.ie reader Jane Travers is better than any we've heard from a politician this past month. Pic: @JaneTravers
Thumberbirds are go
Enda Kenny's trademark thumbs-up gets a final outing on the last full day of canvassing. Pic: Stephen Kilkenny.
Don't say it.
Eamon Gilmore and Joe Costello avoided being snapped with fruit of any sort after this picture appeared at the start of the campaign. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.
Work? I can't stand on my own yet.
May Hennelly is TheJournal.ie's favourite baby on the election campaign trail. We hope that cheers her up, poor mite. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.
The wheels come off.
An amused onlooker takes a snap of a Labour electionmobile clamped outside their HQ in Dublin. Pic: Gavan Reilly
Oi, ref!
Fianna Fail's Chris Andrews tackles Sinn Fein's Aengus O Snodaigh and Ruadhan MacAodhain at the Newstalk charity football match in aid of Barnardos. Pic: PA Images/Niall Carson
Danger! Danger!
You just can't find the right poster-placing staff these days... Pic: @Gina_inTipp
Show business
Eamon Gilmore finds there is no such thing as overexposure in the Labourmobile. Pic: Stephen KilkennySource: Stephen Kilkenny
Tug of war
United Left Alliance candidates Joe Higgins, Brian Greene, Claire Daly and Richard Boyd Barrett in a tug of war with their mask-wearing supporters outside Anglo Irish Bank in Dublin. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.Source: PA Images/Julien Behal
Head count
This piece of er, gothic, graffiti was spotted by @alanhealy on the old Capitol cinema in Cork city.Source: @alanhealy via Twitter
And they're off...
Islander and voter Annie Calvey outside the polling station on Inis Bigil, off the coast of Co Mayo yesterday. Pic: PA Images/Julien Behal.