1997: FF 40.61%; FG18.90%; Lab 17.25%; PD 7.80%; GP 3.57%; SF 5.93%; DL 3.70%; NLP 0.42% Others 1.82%.Outgoing TDs: Michael Woods and Martin Brady (FF), Michael Joe Cosgrave (FG), Tommy Broughan (Lab).
Fine Gael's Michael J. Cosgrave has tasted defeat here before. Will he do so again? Faced with a cold wind, his hopes of sufficient transfers from running-mate Gavin Doyle may not materialise. This would leave the way clear for Education Minister Michael Woods, his running-mate, Martin Brady, and Labour's Tommy Broughan to retain their seats. An eye should be kept on the performance of the Independent Health Alliance candidate, Dr Mark Harold, and Sinn Féin's Larry O'Toole, who doubled his party's share of the vote in 1997.