European candidates/the independents: If Mr Seanán Ó Coistíis suffering from exam stress, he doesn't show it. The energetic 23-year-old is sitting his final exams in the University of Limerick this month. He is also campaigning as an independent in the European election.
Committed to a career in politics, Mr Ó Coistín scarcely has time to complete his studies. From Kildare, he is campaigning on environmental issues and for closer cultural links in the EU and against the exploitation of young people by the drink industry.
"People are blasé about alcohol abuse," he says. "I gave up drinking two years ago because I was fed up with this."
Mr Ó Coistín is one of two final year students campaigning in the East. The other is the anti-war activist Mr Eoin Dubsky, who received a suspended six-month sentence last year for spray-painting a US Air Force plane at Shannon Airport.
He has initiated a High Court action against the provision of landing and overflight services to the US military at Shannon. He too will go from the exam hall, at DCU, to the hustings.
Some of the 16 independents running are household names - Dana Rosemary Scallon MEP who is seeking re-election in the North West constituency; the independent TD Ms Marian Harkin also running in North West; the disability rights campaigner Ms Kathy Sinnott running in the South and the "pro-life" and "no to Nice" campaigner, Mr Justin Barrett, running in the East.
Others include a poet-actor, a news reporter, a talk show host on an unlicensed radio station, and women's and animal rights campaigners. Instead of major poster campaigns, many are using personalised websites to promote their message. With some exceptions, the campaign budgets are small.
A mother from Cork, Ms Lily Moynihan, whose son Adrian (23), died in 2001 after an altercation outside a nightclub, is campaigning in the South constituency for reform of the justice system. There was no prosecution in the case.
Ms Moynihan says justice is a moral as well as a political concept. "I am receiving welcome support from mothers and fathers who think it's an appalling state of affairs that I have to take to the streets in order to get justice."
The manifesto of a Co Kerry farmer, Mr Anthony O'Connor, in the South constituency includes a suggestion that road tankers be used to transport seawater to a network of heated seawater swimming pools. Such pools would encourage winter tourism, he says.
Former aid worker Dr Marie Hainsworth is campaigning in the North West for women's rights. Based in Co Donegal, she was asked to run in the election by a coalition of women's groups in the region. She is campaigning against the gender pay gap and violence against women and against the growth of the sex industry.
A former prison officer from Co Kildare, Mr Clifford T. Reid, is campaigning in the East with election literature and posters bearing the headline "Stop the paedophiles". He says communities should be informed if a paedophile takes up residence in an area. Paedophiles should be electronically tagged and monitored after they leave prison, he says. Mr Reid gave up his job at Cloverhill Prison to run for election. His campaign budget is some €45,000.
Wexford-based actor Joe Neal sold his motorbike to fund his campaign in the East constituency. Mr Neal has played parts on the RTÉ soap Fair City and the BBC drama The Aristocrats. He also worked as a journalist for the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, and the Express titles.
Mr Neal is campaigning on environmental issues and concerned "about the growing control of Brussels over our everyday lives". He is also concerned about poor waste management, "haphazard planning" and says the EU's agricultural and fisheries policies are ineffective.
Businessman Mr Paul Doonan is running in Dublin. A founder of the Apache pizza chain, he is campaigning against the smoking ban, the citizenship referendum, genetically modified foods and incinerators.
A co-founder of the Irish Seal Sanctuary, Mr Brendan Price, is campaigning on animal rights issues.
Dundalk lecturer and fathers' rights activist Mr Liam Ó Gogain says the "gender equality" agenda in the EU discriminates against men and neglects the needs of fathers and their children. He wants to reform the "secret" family court system which operates in camera and says that proceedings should be recorded digitally to ensure transparency.
Mr Gerry Hannan from Limerick broadcasts a nightly talk show on LRO in which he is campaigning against the smoking ban and bin charges on the elderly. He is also campaigning for the return of the station's broadcasting licence.
A reporter with the Sunday People, Tom Prendeville, says he is campaigning in Dublin against the creation of an EU superstate. He is also campaigning to preserve the status of credit unions against attempts to regulate them in the same way as banks.
