Size will not necessarily count against interest when the smallest county votes in the local elections.
Some fresh faces and a lot of horse-trading are expected when the final results are counted in Louth.
Whether the overall power on the authorities will change is still unclear, but the sitting county and urban councillors are expected to face a rough time at the polls.
There are five retiring county councillors. Even if Fianna Fail holds on to its 11 seats on the county council, it still needs at least two more to ensure a majority. Pacts have occurred on a year-to-year basis, with Fianna Fail normally having the support of the two PDs and (sometimes) Sinn Fein's Mr Sean Kenna.
Mr Kenna is expected to retain his seat, as should PD Mr Jim Cousins. Aspirations for a second PD seat, courtesy of Dr Mary Grehan, fell apart this week when she registered as a non-party candidate.
Dr Grehan said she took the decision after her party leader, the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, failed to open officially her new surgery in Dundalk - allegedly because her husband, Mr Gabriel Grehan, had given evidence different to Ms Harney's at the Flood tribunal.
A party spokesman said the matter was closed and that under party rules, because Dr Grehan had registered as non-party, she was no longer a party member.
Dr Grehan is up against four outgoing councillors and seven aspiring ones for six seats in Dundalk South.
They include Ms Constance Short of Labour, well known locally as one of the four parties to the anti-BNFL legal action currently before the High Court. She is a first cousin of the British Minister, Ms Clare Short.
Another newcomer expected to poll well is Mr Arthur Morgan (SF) in the extended Carlingford/Dundalk ward. There could be a battle between him and Mr Johnny McGahon (FG), brother of local TD Brendan and outgoing chairman of Dundalk UDC, for the sixth seat in this ward.
The other five seats should go to outgoing councillors.
Elsewhere, the decision by husband-and-wife team Michael and Betty Bell to retire from both Louth County Council and Drogheda Corporation will see an interesting fight to retain the seats for Labour on both bodies.
The 23-year-old Mr Gerald Nash is favourite for Mr Bell's old seat in the corporation elections. Labour is confident of keeping the seat on the council as well.
Elsewhere in Drogheda, the FF/ FG/Independent pact that prevented Ms Betty Bell from being the first woman mayor is likely to hold after the election.
Also worth watching in Drogheda are Mr Gerry Floyd (Independent) running on an anti-dump ticket, Mr Ken O Heiligh (SF) and Mr Michael McKeon (Green), who could cause surprises for Labour and Fianna Fail.
Ardee Town Commissioners has 10 candidates for nine seats. The FF/PD/Independent voting pact could change now that outgoing Independent, Mr Finan McCoy, is running for Fine Gael.
Finally, in Dundalk, there is interest in how two Independent candidates, standing with the support of the 32-County Sovereignty Movement, one directly against sitting UDC member Mr Sean Kenna of Sinn Fein, will poll.