Limerick City Council has been controlled for more than 20 years by a variety of coalitions involving Fine Gael, Labour and the PDs, who rotated the office of mayor.
It was during that period that the late Mr Jim Kemmy TD was eventually given the mayoralty, after many years waiting.
With the Government's retirement pension on offer, several long-standing council members are opting out. These include Cllr Gus O'Driscoll (FG), who has served for more than 20 years; Mr Frank Leddin (Lab) and his brother Tim (FG), Cllr Bobby Byrne (FG), Cllr Frank Prend ergast (Lab), a former TD, Cllr John Quinn (PD), all former mayors of Limerick, and Alderman Sean Griffin (Ind).
After the June elections the council will have several new members, though among familiar faces seeking re-election is a Fianna Fail stalwart, Cllr Jack Bourke. In the field again are a long-standing councillor, Pat Kennedy (FG), a former senator, Ms Jan O'Sullivan TD (Lab), Cllr John Ryan (Lab) and Alderman John Gilligan (Ind).
On this occasion Fianna Fail will have several other strong candidates, including two former PD mayors, Cllrs Dick Sadlier and Kieran O'Hanlon, who defected during the year, which was a severe blow to the party. They are running on the Fianna Fail ticket though there were grassroots rumblings about genuine party candidates being overlooked or snubbed.
The party is expecting to win at least five of the 17 seats. A local solicitor, Mr Peter Power, who polled well in the last general election, could set himself up for another tilt at the Dail by taking a seat in the Ennis Road area.
With so many outgoing councillors opting out and the defections to the party, Fianna Fail insiders are forecasting that they will control the new council or be the main partner in a possible coalition.
A former mayor, Cllr Bobby Byrne (FG), is hoping his daughter, Ms Marie Byrne, will succeed in her electoral debut. Also entering the field is a local Fine Gael party strategist, Mr Eddie Butler.
The most contentious issue in Limerick is the corporation's proposal to extend the city boundary into Co Limerick and south-east Clare. Limerick and Clare County Councils are strongly opposed to ceding any land, but the corporation has submitted an application to the Minister for the Environment for the extension.
Fianna Fail anticipates regaining control of the county council after the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, intervened to resolve divisions within the party organisation in west Limerick. The return to party ranks of Cllr Michael Brennan, Adare and Cllr John Griffin (Rathkeale) has greatly improved the party's prospects.
A major shock in the last general election was Fianna Fail losing its second seat in Limerick West because of a row in the organisation over the selection of candidates in a constituency that was a Fianna Fail stronghold.
The 28-member county council has been dominated by a coalition of Fine Gael, Labour and the PDs over the past eight years, with 15 seats combined to Fianna Fail's 13. Among the outgoing councillors not seeking re-election is a former TD, Mr Peadar Clohessy (PD), and Cllr John Finucane (PD).
Also resigning are Cllrs Michael Whelan, Matt O'Callaghan, Jim McCarthy, all Fine Gael, and Cllr Mary Kelly (Lab).
Seeking election for the first time for Fine Gael is Mr Richard Butler. Also on the party ticket is a retired garda, Mr Cormac Hurley.
The current Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Joe Harrington, was expected to change his geographical allegiance and stand for the Newcastle West electoral area in west Limerick as an independent. But this week he announced he was leaving politics because of an alleged media smear and for health reasons.