Keeping it in the family would appear to be the motto on Leitrim County Council, where seven of the 22 councillors are bowing out of local politics. Four of the outgoing councillors will have close relatives standing. Mr John Ellis, a Fianna Fail TD, is among those stepping down, in his case because he is the chairman of an Oireachtas committee and cannot hold both positions. His brother Caillian will be contesting the seat.
Mr Farell McElgunn and Mr Michael Guckian, two other Fianna Fail councillors, are also retiring. Mr McElgunn's son, Liam, is running, as is Mr Guckian's daughter, Sinead.
One of two Fine Gael councillors availing of the so-called "scrappage scheme", Mr Charlie Cullen, will no doubt be supporting his nephew, Mr Francis White. This election will see the end of the Blaney connection on Leitrim County Council, with the retirement of Mr Larry McGowan, an Independent Fianna Fail councillor. The party will not be running any candidate in his place.
Mr Gerry Reynolds, a Fine Gael TD, should be assured of holding on to his seat as should Fianna Fail Senator Pascal Mooney.
On the existing council Fianna Fail and Fine Gael hold nine seats each and generally work together, with the chair being rotated between them. The other seats are taken up by one Independent Fianna Fail, one Sinn Fein and two Independents.
Labour is trying to take its first seat on the council with Mr Gabriel McSharry, a lecturer in the Tourism College, Killybegs, running in the Manorhamilton area.
Sinn Fein is running a candidate in each of the four electoral areas and could be in a good position to take two seats.
The task facing Fianna Fail candidates will have been made considerably easier by recent funding announcements in the county. Two Government Ministers, Mr Cowen and Mr Dempsey, have visited Leitrim recently and funding of £3.5 million has been announced for projects which include the hospital in Manorhamilton, a library in Ballinamore and sewerage schemes.
One man in Leitrim who is bound to attract attention by his name alone is Mr Percy Ffrench, from Jamestown, who is making his first foray into local elections as a Fine Gael candidate.