If it is excitement you are looking for, then Dublin South Central is not the place to be this weekend. The by-election campaign for the seat left vacant by the sudden death of the Labour Party TD, Dr Pat Upton, has been dull and, with four days to polling, shows no signs of coming alive.
Voter apathy is widespread and revelations from the tribunals and the DIRT inquiry have not helped. Mr Charles Haughey's Charvet shirts and expensive meals in Le Coq Hardi are as much a talking point on the door steps in this constituency as are the three most pressing local problems - housing, motor traffic congestion, and drug abuse.
Candidate recognition is low. The Labour Party hopeful, Ms Mary Upton, and the Fine Gael candidate, Ms Catherine Byrne, are contesting a Dail election for the first time.
The best-known candidate is Mr Michael Mulcahy of Fianna Fail, who is hoping to make it fourth-time lucky in his bid for a Dail seat. However, Fianna Fail looks set to lose its fourth by-election in a row since it came to power in 1997.
Mr Mulcahy has not received the same support from his party's heavyweights as have the Fine Gael and Labour candidates. There has been comment on Fianna Fail's not selecting a Government Minister as Mr Mulcahy's director of elections. Dublin North Central TD Mr Ivor Callely has been given the task.
While it is accepted that he has an extremely busy diary, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has not spent much time yet on the canvass with Mr Mulcahy, although he did some campaigning outside local churches last Sunday. Government Ministers have also been thin on the ground.
Last Thursday, the 39-year-old barrister, former senator and city councillor since 1985, was accompanied on the campaign trail in Walkinstown by the popular Donegal North East TD, Ms Cecilia Keaveney. Mr Mulcahy is focusing on the traffic gridlock problem.
More affordable housing is also part of his manifesto and he calls for the provision of housing for older citizens. He says the recent scandals and the nurses' dispute have not had an impact on his campaign, but he does accept that there is general disillusionment with all politicians.
He is appealing to the constituency electorate of 81,525 to turn out regardless of political affiliation. "It is important that people exercise their democratic right," he says.
There is no doubting Mr Mulcahy's hard work and commitment through his corporation work. But the view from within the party seems to be that he is not the person to succeed Mr Ben Briscoe, one of South Central's two sitting Fianna Fail TDs, who is due to retire at the next election.
Fianna Fail took 34.4 per cent of the vote in the last general election, with Mr Mulcahy polling 4,474 first preferences. But even if he repeats, this Mr Mulcahy is unlikely to win the seat because the transfers will not go his way.
The Labour candidate, food scientist Dr Mary Upton, is a sister of the late TD. Dr Upton says divisions in the party over her being selected instead of the former Democratic Left TD for the constituency, Mr Eric Byrne, have been mended and that Mr Byrne and his team have been supporting her campaign.
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, and Pat Upton's widow, Ann, have been with the candidate every day in the last week and the feedback was good.
But Dr Upton is keen to point out that she is well known in her own right. She has been a member of the Labour Party since 1983 and was her brother's director of elections.
Housing is one of her priorities. She is also promising to lobby for improved childcare facilities and second-chance education.
In 1997 the total Labour/DL vote was 21.5 per cent. If Dr Upton can come in ahead of the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail hopefuls, she could clinch it on transfers.
Undoubtedly the liveliest canvass is being conducted by the Fine Gael camp. The party's candidate, mother-of-five Ms Catherine Byrne, who was elected to Dublin Corporation on her first attempt last June, is well known, particularly in the west of the constituency.
A big factor in her favour has been the constant presence of the Fine Gael constituency poll topper, Mr Gay Mitchell, and party leader Mr John Bruton, an enthusiastic and energetic canvasser.
The professionalism of her campaign is impressive. Her director of elections, Dublin South West TD Mr Brian Hayes, has split the constituency into six regions. He says each member of the Fine Gael parliamentary party has 450 doors to knock on.
Fine Gael took 34.4 per cent of the vote in 1997, most going to Mr Mitchell. Party workers firmly believe Ms Byrne's personal popularity will ensure her a good first-preference vote and that with transfers she could win the seat.
Mr Gay Mitchell, not known to be a betting man, says he may put a few pounds on Ms Byrne to win, so convinced is he of her chances.
The Progressive Democrats are not fielding a candidate. Their candidate last time, Ms Cait Keane, a councillor, picked up 5 per cent of the vote. Where that 5 per cent eventually goes could prove crucial if the three main party candidates are neck and neck in first preferences.
The Workers Party candidate is Mr Shay Kelly, a Dublin Corporation employee, who is campaigning to spread the PAYE burden more evenly. His slogan is "Tax the greedy - not the needy". Among the big issues he says he is encountering on the doorsteps are childcare and hospital waiting lists.
Sinn Fein's Aengus O Snodaigh (35), a Bord na Gaeilge employee, is confident of maintaining the success of the party in the June local elections. He will do well in the socially-deprived areas such as Dolphin's Barn, where unemployment is high and drugs are a huge problem.
The Green Party candidate, librarian Mr John Goodwillie, took 4 per cent of the vote in 1997 and says he will benefit from the protest vote in the constituency at recent political scandals. Partnership for Peace, motor traffic and housing are on his campaign list.
Giving the people the power to call a referendum by collection of signatures is central to the campaign of the Christian Solidarity Party candidate, Mr Manus Mac Mean main (29), a student. He also wants separate police forces in each local authority area, with the Garda to act as a State security force.
The Natural Law Party candidate, Mr John Burns, a teacher of transcendental meditation, is looking for a more stress-free and carefree society for all. Mr Eamon Murphy, a councillor, is running as a non-party candidate.