1997: FF 42.19%; FG 29.19%; Lab 15.19%;PDs 5.64%;GP 5.52%; NP 1.54%; Others 0.74%.Outgoing TDs: Liam Aylward and John McGuinness (FF); Phil Hogan and John Browne (FG); Seamus Pattison (Lab).
Just four of the seats are available, since the Ceann Comhairle, Seamus Pattison is automatically re-elected. John Browne's retirement opens up the race, though he is hoping that his son, Fergal, will replace him. The key lies in the first preference won by the Carlow-based candidates, Mr Browne, FF's Senator M.J. Nolan and the Green's Deputy Leader, Mary White. A weak FG vote will leave White challenging, since she can rely on both Labour and FG transfers from both counties. However, a national swing to FF could put Mr Nolan in line to take a third seat, if FF vote management efforts work between him and the outgoing FF TDs. The first preference votes of the Labour candidates and Independent candidate Mr Eddie Collins-Hughes will heavily influence the outcome.