Constituency Notebook: Labour and the Greens have high hopes of a gain in Dublin South, but at whose expense, asks Paul Cullen
So who will the kingmakers of Dublin South favour with their support this time around?
In previous elections, they were at the leading edge of Labour's "Spring tide", they put the Greens in the Dáil for the first time and they were there for the birth of the PDs.
But as Eithne Fitzgerald, Roger Garland and Anne Colley respectively know to their chagrin, this middle-class electorate is fickle and unpredictable, and can dump its favourites almost as soon as it finds them. All three politicians lost their seats at the next time of asking.
This time around, both Labour and the Greens are vying to recover the seats they once held, while Karen Canning, the Health Alliance candidate, will be hoping to tap into the vein of disaffection in the constituency.
Dublin South voted strongly against the abortion referendum, but showed its pro-EU colours when it was one of only two constituencies to vote in favour of Nice in 1999.
There are pockets of deprivation, and housing and crime rank as important issues, but mostly voters are obsessed with the problems of prosperity. Dundrum has become a complete traffic bottleneck, commuting times are lengthening and areas of green space are disappearing under concrete.
With the Government chief whip, two junior ministers and two leading opposition spokepersons, few constituencies can boast such a high-profile complement of TDs. In theory, that should mean office-holders have less time to "mind the patch" but all the established politicians here have well-oiled constituency machines.
Most observers' tip to head the poll is Fine Gael's Olivia Mitchell, who has profiled well on the issues voters here most care about, such as traffic, road-building and taxis.
Ms Mitchell, who romped home in the local elections in 1999, has also adroitly exploited the Traveller issue through her opposition to illegal encampments in the constituency.
Séamus Brennan and Tom Kitt should both be safe for Fianna Fáil, though the party's third candidate, newcomer Maria Corrigan, is attracting good notices in some quarters. A psychologist from Churchtown, she is a long shot to dislodge one of her running mates.
The last two seats will be disputed by sitting TDs, Alan Shatter of Fine Gael and Liz O'Donnell of the PDs, Ms Fitzgerald of Labour and, possibly, the Greens' Éamon Ryan. Sinn Féin's Deirdre Whelan is unlikely to make a big impact.
Like most of the PDs, Ms O'Donnell will be relying more on her high profile rather than constituency work to get re-elected. Her liberal image and involvement in the Northern peace process will earn her lower preferences even from voters who have little time for the economic policies of the PDs.
Mr Shatter has represented the area for 20 years now, and his political obituary has been written more than once. Once again, he looks vulnerable.
Like Ms O'Donnell, Mr Ryan doesn't live in the constituency, but he has a good record for vote-getting in the council elections in Rathmines.
There were 3,500 Green votes in Dublin South last time out, and Mr Ryan will be disappointed if he doesn't increase this figure.
Eithne Fitzgerald has worked hard to retrieve the ground she lost after her spectacular collapse in 1997. Though she didn't stand in the local elections, she is likely to increase her vote.
Prediction: FF 2, FG 1, PD 1, Labour 1
Tomorrow
Kildare North, Galway West
1997: FF 38.62%; FG 29.09%; Lab 10.6%; PD 9.39%; GP 6.1%; SP1.08%; NLP 0.2%; Others 4.92%
Outgoing TDs: Seamus Brennan and Tom Kitt (FF), Alan Shatter and Olivia Mitchell (FG), Liz O'Donnell (PD).