Council profile: Kerry Political dynasties are busy consolidating their power base, writes Michael O'Regan
In Kerry, it will be the first time in six decades that a member of the Spring family will be absent from the ballot paper.
Ms Maeve Spring, sister of former Labour leader and Tánaiste, Mr Dick Spring, polled 3,174 first preferences, more than 1,000 over the quota, in the Tralee electoral area the last time. Despite being a strong favourite to secure a Dáil seat in the next election, she has retired from politics for personal reasons.
This has opened up a long-term battle for the Labour Dáil nomination. The party is running two candidates in the Tralee seven-seater, Mr Terry O'Brien, Mayor of Tralee, and the prominent SIPTU official, Mr Donal Tobin. With good vote management, Labour could secure two seats.
The Tralee electoral area is also the scene of a dynastic battle between Fianna Fáil's McEllistrim and Foley camps. Ms Norma Foley, daughter of former Kerry North TD, Mr Denis Foley, who has her eyes on a Dáil seat, and Ms Anne McEllistrim, sister of the sitting TD, Mr Tom McEllistrim, are standing. In the Listowel electoral area, Mr John Brassil is making it clear that he needs a high first preference vote to secure a Fianna Fáil Dáil nomination.
In Tralee, another dynasty is also in the making. Ms Toireasa Ferris, daughter of Kerry North Sinn Féin TD, Mr Martin Ferris, who replaced him on Kerry County Council, is seeking a seat.
Meanwhile, the Healy-Rae dynasty is also attempting to consolidate its base, with the two sons of the Independent TD for Kerry South, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, seeking to hold their seats. Mr Danny Healy-Rae, who replaced his father on the council, is running in the Killarney electoral area, while Mr Michael Healy-Rae will be striving to retain his seat in the Killorglin electoral area.
Fianna Fáil and the Healy-Raes have controlled the outgoing council, sharing the position of mayor. The arrangement had an uneasy birth, given the tension between the party and its once grassroots wonder. Tempers have since cooled somewhat.
The Fianna Fáil Minister for Tourism, Mr O'Donoghue, who is hoping to shore up his Dáil base, has candidates strategically placed in Kerry South.
Mr O'Donoghue's brother, Mr Paul O'Donoghue, is running in the Killorglin electoral area, as are Mr Michael Cahill and Mr Liam Crowley, while Mr Colin Miller, the Minister's personal assistant, is a candidate in Killarney.
There is intensive campaigning in the Dingle electoral area between the seven candidates fighting for the three seats. Fianna Fáil currently holds two and Fine Gael one. Labour is hoping for a breakthrough with Mr Owen O'Shea, from Milltown, who has taken leave of absence from the party's Dublin press office, to engage in an intensive daily canvass. He is seen as one of the party's rising stars. Ms Bridget O'Connor is running as an Independent to highlight the potholed state of the west Kerry roads, while Mr Pat O'Shea, from Curraheen, is running for Sinn Féin.
Fine Gael is hoping for a breakthrough in the Killarney electoral area, where it has no councillor. It is running Ms Sheila Casey and Mr Tom Sheehan, and the success of at least one of them is crucial to the party's attempts to regain a Dáil seat in its one-time stronghold of Kerry South at the next election. Here, Fianna Fáil councillors, Mr Tom Fleming and Mr Brian O'Leary, will also be running with an eye to securing a Dáil nomination next time. Mr O'Leary is also seeking a seat on Killarney Urban Council.
The PDs, meanwhile, are beginning their campaign to build a base in the county, with a number of candidates in the field. Their best chance appears to rest with Ms Colette Garvey, who is running a strong campaign for a seat on Tralee Urban Council.
The issues, in the words of one candidate, are "planning, planning and planning". The issue is complex, with the national publicity secured by county councillors passing 140 motions, compelling the county manager to grant planning permission where it was refused, at variance with the frustrations of locals who cannot build homes in their native areas despite living there.
Kerry County Council has been notable for its strong Independents, with councillors such as Mr Brendan Cronin and Mr Michael Gleeson taking a highly individual line on issues.
While there is a consensus that Fianna Fáil is getting negative vibes on the doorsteps, their outgoing councillors and new candidates are individually strong. Bar a significant swing, the elections could see Fianna Fáil and the Healy-Raes resuming their political marriage of convenience.